Haste in signing PM SHRI pact hints at ulterior motives, says Venugopal

The difference in opinion between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Communist Party of India (CPI) over the PM SHRI scheme has exposed the erosion of collective responsibility within the State Cabinet and an unholy nexus with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal has said.

He alleged that the undue haste shown in executing the agreement, which purportedly undermines the State’s interests, points to ulterior motives.

‘Secret agenda’

Inaugurating the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebrations of Kerala NGO Association here on Monday, Mr. Venugopal said that the deal appeared to be part of a secret agenda involving Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the BJP. “It must be investigated where the pressure originated to adopt such a decision without the knowledge of the Cabinet, the Left Democratic Front or even the CPI(M) leadership,” he said.

The Congress leader also accused the LDF government of neglecting the interests of government employees in the State. For the last nine-and-a-half years, the CPI(M)-led government has consistently sided with corporate forces, even if their decisions ran counter to workers’ welfare.

In contrast, the Congress and the United Democratic Front, he said, have always sought to uphold the rights and concerns of the working class.