February 21, 2018
Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to open up coal mining to Indian and foreign companies in the private sector. This is part of the aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies by the Narendra Modi government. Till now the private sector was permitted to mine the fossil fuel only for captive use i.e. utilised only for the industry for which the allocation of the block was done. Surplus coal needed to be sold to Coal India Ltd at the notified price.
This decision of the Modi government to privatise the coal mining sector while undermining the energy security of the country will compromise with the safety and security of workers engaged in coal mines. Trade unions and the Left parties have been consistently voicing their opposition to this dangerous move.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) calls upon all democratic sections of the people to oppose this move and demand its withdrawal.