Yechury terms Sibal’s zero-loss claim bizarre

“His (Sibal’s) comments on the issue are completely bizarre. They are aimed at protecting the interests of the beneficiaries. It is improper to use the prices of 3G as the benchmark to assess the prices of 2G. If the CAG had given a false report,then why did A Raja resign in the first place? What happened in the 2G scam was trying to negate the recommendations of the TRAI,while Sibal is trying to defend the companies that got licenses at a throwaway prices,” Yechury said.

He added that the Left parties’ demand of a joint parliamentary committee over the issue was justified. “People ask us why the Left and the BJP are not raising the issue unitedly. We cannot join hands with the BJP as their credibility has come under the scanner after what happened in Karnataka and also because ultimately it will give a wrong reflection on our party and we do not want that to happen,” he said.

When asked about the performance of the UPA II government,Yechury said,“All of us initially thought that it would provide a stable governance. However,within a year,it started crumbling and falling apart with a number of corruption cases like the CWG scam. The Congress is responsible for the failure…The talk of economic growth is useless at a time when inflation is rising and the prices of essential commodities is getting beyond the common man’s reach. The price rise has gone up by 175 per cent. The growth is benefitting only a small section of society,whereas 77 per cent are living below the poverty line. Health,education and other sectors are getting privatised.”

Yechury came down heavily on the Trinamool Congress for supporting the Maoists in Bengal. “We want the Congress to stop playing petty politics when they have parties and leaders who have joined hands with the Maoists,who are a big threat to India’s internal security.”

Yechury said a few good words about the new Maharashtra Chief Minister,Prithviraj Chavan,for making ‘sincere efforts while at the Centre’. “We hope he puts up a good performance in the state,” he added.