CPM has links with Israel: Antony

Thursday,9 April 2009

Thrissur,Kerala: Union defense minister A K Antony stated that the CPM has maintained connections with Israel for several years.

He asserted that it was not he who began the relations with Israel. India had resumed her diplomatic relations with Israel way back in 1991. The Third Front Governments at the helm with CPM support continued the relations. The Israeli link strengthened further when BJP was in power and that they had no right to criticize him or the Congress party over Israeli relations, he said.

The first Chief Minister from India to visit Israel was Jyoti Basu, he said. A 25-member official delegation had also accompanied him on that occasion. Would Jyoti Basu, a politBuro member, have gone to Israel without discussing with the party?

There are a number of Israeli establishments in west Bengal. Mega enterprises in segments including hotel, IT, agriculture, tourism and so on function there. The two governments have jointly set up trip irrigation project in West Bengal. Industrialists coming to India always make it point to visit West Bengal before leaving the country. Israelis consider West Bengal as their paradise.

Whenever Isarel discusses on investment in India, their first choice is West Bengal. Israeli establishments can be found anyhwere in West Bengal. The has always accorded special privileges on Israeli industrialists. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had visited India, while BJP was ruling the country.

Former Chief Minister of Kerala had asked for special permission to send a ministerial level team to Israel at that time. That's how a delegation under the then agriculture minister Krishnan Kaniyanparampil visited Israel. Can a minister in the Left Front go to Israel with out consulting CPM politburo or CPI central committee?

Investigations are on to find out whether any malpractice occurred in the arms deal with Israel. Legal actions will be taken if the company is found guilty, said Antony.

He said that though developmental programmes amounting over 40,000 crores were initiated in the state. It was ingratitude on the part of the chief minister to say that the central government has given no support to the state. The people of Kerala with sense of jurisprudence will never bear with this. He said that the discontent with the state government would be transformed into vote for UDF. He also said that another Front would not come to power with the support of Congress.