Srinagar, Apr 22: Apparently supporting the idea of deferring Municipal polls in wake of tourist season, the state secretary of CPI (M) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kulgam M Y Tarigami on Sunday asked the State Government to accommodate the views of people associated with tourist industry vis-à-vis timing of the polls.
 “Government should accommodate views of people who earn their livelihood from tourism sector over it (schedule of polls). We need to take into consideration that there is no activity of livelihood during winter here,” Tarigami said while addressing a news conference here on the final day of three day Working Committee meet of Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI). 
 But in the same breath, he castigated the State Government for delaying the polls.
 “Giving powers to urban local bodies has been long overdue. The process has got delayed due to indecisiveness of the Government. When they knew that tourist season would commence in month of April, why they did not hold the polls before?” he asked.
 “Government should come clear on timing of Municipal Polls as further lame- excuses would not be accepted at any cost,” he said.
 The CPI (M) leader, strong votary of decentralization of powers in sync with policy of his Left Wing party, said that polls for local urban bodies should be kept away from the politics. “We should not mix politics with the issues that are meant for development at local level,” he added.
 Tarigami flayed State Labour Ministry for “pursuing anti-labour policies” saying that it was in deep slumber over the  plight of labour community.
 “Even the SRO for minimum wages has not been implemented in letter and spirit. Our labourers are finding it difficult to get them registered with Construction Workers Welfare Board. Likewise,
 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are also facing the same fate,” he said.
 Taking a dig at neo-liberal policies of the Centre, he said, “Workers are being denied their basic and legal rights and due to agrarian crisis peasants are committing suicides all over the country.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST