CPM not static, has changed its “positions and policies” over time,“FDI can be allowed keeping in mind dat it increases our productive capacityPrakash

CPM not static, has changed its “positions and policies” over time, says Karat-“FDI can be allowed keeping in mind that it increases our productive capacity, help us to acquire new technologies and generate employment,”



CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday said his party was not a “static” one and it has changed its “positions and policies” over the years, an assertion which is seen as a rebuff to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who according to leaked confidential US diplomatic cables had told the US Ambassador in 2009 that the CPM must ‘either change or perish’.

The CPM top boss chose to clear his stand on his own at a press conference convened to spell out the party’s opposition to the UPA government’s decision to allow “corporates to set up banks”. He spoke about the CPM’s position on FDI in the light of the revelations that CPM leaders from Kerala wooed US investments during their meetings with American diplomats.

Karat said the CPM was not totally against FDI. Foreign investments are welcome but with certain riders. “FDI can be allowed keeping in mind that it increases our productive capacity, help us to acquire new technologies and generate employment,” he said. The CPM, however, was “opposed to foreign direct investments in retail trade, mining, higher education and media”.

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Making light of the contents of the US cables, he said both the former chief ministers of the party had outlined the party’s position during their interactions with American diplomats.

When pointed out that Bhattacharjee had favoured US investment in the education sector during his 2009 meeting, he said the party deliberated and came out with its position on this aspect “subsequently”.

“On fighting American imperialism our stand remains. As far as FDI is concerned, our stand is there in the party programme and whether it is Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, V S Achuthanandan or Prakash Karat we go by our party’s basic programmatic understanding,” he said.

Karat said the Prime Minister had asked chief of American retail chain Walmart to meet Bhattacharjee to convince him about allowing FDI in retail sector. “The chief minister had then explained the party’s position to him.”

Asked about Bhattacharjee’s observation that the CPM must either change or perish, he said, “We are not a static party. I just mentioned about FDI. That was put on our party programme when we updated it in 2000. It was not there in the earlier programme. So our party is not a static party which has not changed its positions and policies.”

Not just Bhattacharjee, former Kerala chief minister Achuthanandan too had sought US investments in IT, tourism and biotechnology sectors. That was in line with the party position, Karat said. He downplayed the contents of the cables. “There are factual information about meetings and then there are observations and interpretations.”