Making a direct allegation on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has said the former, in 2005, had asked the chief of American retail chain Walmart to convince West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector.
Karat claimed the meeting between Walmart chief and the PM had taken place when CPI(M) was still supporting the UPA government from outside.
While clarifying on the secret US cables released by Wikileaks, Karat admitted that chief ministers of West Bengal and Kerala had met American officials and had informed them about the CPI(M)’s view on FDI during their interactions.
“The PM had asked the Walmart chief to convince the West Bengal chief minister on allowing FDI in retail trade. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had then explained the party’s opposition on the issue”, said Karat.
Explaining the CPI(M)’s stand, Karat said the party was not completely against FDI but would not agree to allow it in areas like retail trade, mining and higher education.
The CPI(M) general secretary said FDI could be allowed if it improved productive capacities, helped in acquiring new technologies and generated employment. Even the Parliamentary Standing Committee had opposed FDI’s entry in print media, he added.
“This stand of ours is part of our party programme. Our leaders and chief ministers have spoken about the party’s stand on FDI,” he said.
Declining to comment on the interpretations made by US diplomats after holding discussions with chief ministers of West Bengal and Kerala, Karat said, “The official US cables released by the Wikileaks had two aspects — factual information about the meetings these diplomats had with Indian leaders and the observations and interpretations made by them. We have to take their observations with a pinch of salt. We need not accept them.”
