The Hindu : CPI(M) refutes media reports

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

CPI(M) refutes media reports

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 22. The CPI(M) State secretariat today refuted media reports suggesting that the party's politburo had admonished the State leadership for the way it had handled the foreign fund controversy raked up by the `Padhom' magazine.

In a press release issued here, the State secretariat said certain newspapers were carrying distorted stories about the `reporting' process currently going on in the party to prepare the cadres for the ensuing Lok Sabha election campaign.

During the regional meetings called by the party for the `reporting', the politburo member, Prakash Karat, also explained to the delegates the position taken by the party on the controversial issues brought up by the media.

The party had adopted its position after subjecting the issues to discussions in its State committee and politburo.

The press release noted that the party State secretariat had issued a statement following its meetings on January 10 and 11.

Several points covered by this statement were given more clarity (when the party adopted its final position on the controversies after discussions in the State committee and the politburo).

"What the party did was to reiterate the stand it had taken in 1995 on the question of foreign funding.

"The party also rejected the slander campaign launched against it by the `Padhom' magazine, which viewed the issues from an extremist left position," the press release said.

"The People's Plan Campaign is in line with the party's viewpoint with respect to decentralisation of powers. Its achievements were quite creditable.

"At the same time, there had been certain failings during its implementation, requiring correction," the press release added.

"Two wrong ideas were still prevailing among the people about the People's Plan Campaign. One was that it was essentially an imperialist-World Bank programme.

"The second was that it was the magic potion to overcome all present-day problems, including those brought in by globalisation.

"The CPI(M) rejects both these views.

"Media reports saying that the State secretariat of the party was admonished by the politburo in connection with these controversies are totally baseless," the press release pointed out.

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