Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 March 2024
The Port Blair City Area Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) has raised its voice against the numerous issues plaguing the residents of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands during a series of corner meetings held from February 27th to February 29th, 2024.
Key concerns highlighted during these meetings included intermittent power cuts, the deplorable condition of urban roads, price rises, and the failure of Smart City Projects, among others.
Addressing a gathering at Haddo junction on February 29th, 2024, D. Ayyappan, Secretary of CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee, expressed deep concern over the lack of solutions provided by the BJP government for the issues faced by islanders. Ayyappan particularly emphasized the rising unemployment rate and criticised central government and the Member of Parliament for failing to generate employment opportunities for local youth.
Ayyappan also criticised the failure of the central government and its administration in the islands to address basic amenities such as drinking water and electricity, despite promises made by the Prime Minister during his visit to the islands in December 2018. He further noted a concerning increase in corruption over the past decade, with little accountability for corrupt leaders and officials.
D. Laxman Rao, State Secretariat Member of CPI (M), echoed Ayyappan’s sentiments, highlighting the dismal state of roads in Port Blair town. Rao criticised the BJP-controlled Port Blair Municipal Council and its administration for their failure to address road repair needs.
SP Kalairajan, State Organising Committee Member of CPI (M), condemned the BJP government at the centre and its administration in the islands for denying fair compensation to over one thousand daily rated mazdoors (labourers) of the Forest Department.
NKP Nair and KG Samkutty, CPI (M) Port Blair City Area Committee Members, also joined the chorus of criticism against the central government’s anti-working class policies.
These corner meetings served as a platform for CPI (M) to vocalise the grievances of the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and to hold the BJP government accountable for its failures in addressing these critical issues.