Thursday, January 5 2006 15:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Condemning the recent firing on displaced tribals in Kalinga Nagar of Orissa, Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) today (Jan 05, 2006) demanded a review of national mineral export policy.

"The tribals were only protesting against the state government for inadequate compensation for parting with their land for an industry and 12 tribals were killed in state repression which we condemn", CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here today.

"We demand that the export policy of mineral wealth be reviewed by an expert committee to determine as to what extent the minerals found in the country could be exported and how much could be utilised within the country", he said.

On controversy surrounding yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Karat said, "the issue was not a fight between two industrialists. 112 workers were dismissed from the Haridwar pharmacy unit recently and some of them had told about animal parts were being mixed at the ayurvedic medicines in the unit".

Rubbishing the allegation that Brinda Karat, his wife and CPM leader, who has taken up the Ramdev issue, was doing so under the influence of MNCs, the CPM General Secretary said, "Our (CPI-M) stand on MNCs is very clear. We have been opposing them and if someone alleges that we have been working at the behest of MNCs, it is ridiculous".