Thiruvananthapuram: In a huge embarrassment for the CPM that is known for its tough anti-US stance, whistleblower website WikiLeaks claims that in August 2008, top CPM leaders in Kerala sought a senior US diplomat's help in attracting private investment from America. This was just a month after the Left withdrew its support to the UPA government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
WikiLeaks claims that according to cables sent by the US Political Counsellor, the then Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan told the visiting American diplomat about the CPM's "interest in attracting US investment to Kerala."
The cables sent to the US State Department also quote Achuthanandan's rival and CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan as saying, "We have no problems with American companies, no hesitations at all."
The secret cables also state that Vijayan's close aides and senior CPM leaders Thomas Isaac and MA Baby "made spirited efforts to convince the US official that Leninist economic principles permit FDI".
The party has now defended its stand. "Whatever position we took during the discussions with US delegates was according to our party line," said TM Thomas Isaac, a CPM Central Committee member.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) seized this opportunity and said "this shows the party's double standards.
"It has become a fashion for the CPM to attack the US on all issues. Then, it wants investments from private business houses in America. This shows the party's double standards," said KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala,
The CPM has in the past used the US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks to corner the UPA government on various issues, but the same cables are now back to embarrass the party.
WikiLeaks claims that according to cables sent by the US Political Counsellor, the then Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan told the visiting American diplomat about the CPM's "interest in attracting US investment to Kerala."
The cables sent to the US State Department also quote Achuthanandan's rival and CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan as saying, "We have no problems with American companies, no hesitations at all."
The party has now defended its stand. "Whatever position we took during the discussions with US delegates was according to our party line," said TM Thomas Isaac, a CPM Central Committee member.
Advertisement
"It has become a fashion for the CPM to attack the US on all issues. Then, it wants investments from private business houses in America. This shows the party's double standards," said KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala,
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Sitaram Yechury: CPM Chief, Raconteur And Pragmatic Face Of Left Trinamool's Kunal Ghosh's 'Rat' Photo Barb, CPM Leader's 'Rabbit' Comeback "Leading Light Of The Left": PM Modi Pays Tribute To Sitaram Yechury "Sit Quiet": Bhavish Aggarwal As Kunal Kamra Flags Ola EV Issue Dinner With Kim Jong Un Or George Soros? S Jaishankar Was Asked. His Reply "Haryana Can Give Me Space": Kumari Selja, A Dalit, Day After Exit Polls "There's One India": Canada Reaffirms Support For Territorial Integrity New Culinary Gems in Delhi: Exploring The Latest Restaurants To Visit In October-November 2024 Rajasthan Police Constable 2024 Computer Based Test Result Released Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.