CHENNAI: Hitting out at union telecom minister Kapil Sibal for his stance that “no revenue loss accrued to the government in 2G Spectrum allocation,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday said the former was made in charge of the communications ministry only to whitewash the biggest scam India had ever seen.
Speaking to reporters after participating in a commemorative function to honour the memory of veteran Marxist leader Pappa Umanath, who passed away recently, Karat said one could now understand why Sibal was made in charge of the communications ministry.
“After the expose of the biggest scam, there is now a minister who is trying to whitewash the crime,” he said adding the people of the country would not buy the false claims of the UPA government.
In reply to a question, he said though his party continued to demand a JPC probe, the strategy to be adopted in the budget session of Parliament was yet to be decided.
Neo liberal policy behind the rot: Paying tributes to Pappa Umanath, he said politics in TN as in the rest of country had degenerated and become business, which was conducted through politics. “Ministers, MPs, MLAs and even at the panchayat level, the main purpose of those entering public life is not only self aggrandisement, but they also work for the interests of the rich and powerful.” Stating that this was in stark contrast of what Pappa Umanath’s life exemplified, he recalled how she selflessly worked for people’s causes. “But, today you have scams where `1.76 lakh crore is misappropriated, public office is misused for self enrichment.” Making it categorical that corruption was part and parcel of the existing neo-liberal regime, he said other political parties hid the fact. Corruption stemmed from the nexus between big businesses, politicians and bureaucrats. “Unless you fight neo-liberal policies, which attack the lives of the working class, like peasants, you cannot fight corruption which is becoming institutionalised,” he noted.
Earlier, he unveiled a portrait of Pappa Umanath. N Sankariah, R Umanath, CPM State Secretary G Ramakrishnan, polit bureau member K Varadarajan participated.