Possibility of 'deal' between BJP and Trinamool Congress: Sitaram Yechury

New Delhi, Jan 16: CPI(M) on Friday alleged that there was a possibility of a "deal" between BJP and Trinamool Congress to get "anti-people" laws passed in Rajya Sabha as was reflected in the support given by the Finance Minister to West Bengal government's recent 'Bengal Global' summit.

"BJP, that is increasingly finding it difficult to get its anti-people legislations, particularly regarding neo-liberal economic reforms, endorsed by Rajya Sabha, requires the acquiescence of

to make its life easier in the Upper House.

"May be, that such a deal is in the offing was reflected in the rather enthusiastic support offered by the Finance Minister to TMC at this 'Bengal Global'," senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said in an editorial in the party organ 'People's Democracy'.

Referring to the recently concluded global industrial summit in Kolkata, Yechury said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was present there to offer all cooperation of the Narendra Modi government for "these efforts" in Bengal.

"Many eyebrows were raised. The public posturing is one of antagonism between BJP and TMC. Such promised cooperation, though couched under the cloak of self-righteousness, smacks of a new political deal that is underway," he said.

He said TMC, "whose leaders are increasingly being summoned by CBI for questioning in the humongous Saradha and other chit fund scams, with the needle of suspicion pointing towards the Chief Minister, desperately needs the protective umbrella of the central government."

Referring to Modi's remark that "India has three things to its credit - democracy, demography and demand", Yechury said that these three attributes continue to remain for the country and the people as "non-performing assets".

PTI