CPI(M) adopts different stance in Kerala, West Bengal: Antony

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 17 (UNI) Former Kerala Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member A K Antony today alleged that the CPI(M) was following ''different stands'' in Kerala and West Bengal regarding development policies.

Criticising the ''double stand'' of the politburo, he said while the CPI(M) unit in West Bengal was providing a ''red carpet'' welcome to the Multinational companies and Foreign Direct Investment(FDI), its Kerala unit strongly opposed such development activities in the state.

The people in the state should realise this ''duel face'' of the CPI(M), he said and added that only the Congress-led United Democratic Front could lead the state to development.

Participating at a meet-the-press programme of the Kesari Memorial Journalists' Trust here, he pointed out that the banning of strikes in the IT sector in West Bengal was to make the state as the best IT sector in the country.

Mr Antony said the first priority of the UDF, if voted to power, would be to enhance the living conditions of the people.

Though the people in the state were very intelligent and hard working than other states, the development of the state was very poor, he said adding that development was needed to compete with other states.

However, the CPI(M) was trying to scuttle all the development initiatives of the UDF government, he alleged and said that the UDF's agenda was development and creating a peaceful atmosphere to the people and not politics.

Despite the CPI(M)-led Opposition's frequent strikes, the previous UDF government had succeeded in bringing Rs 40,000 crore investment to the state and if it gets another term, investment worth Rs one lakh crore would be brought in, he claimed.

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