Government confident of reforms due to Cong, BJP 'match-fixing': CPM

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) today claimed " match -fixing" between ruling Congress and main opposition BJP, saying this has made the government "confident" of getting reform measures like amending the banking and pension fund laws passed in Parliament.

"There is a degree of understanding between Congress and BJP, suggesting match-fixing between the two parties. This match-fixing will become clear when the government brings in these Bills," senior party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

Claiming that "a certain degree of understanding" has developed between Congress and BJP on the banking laws and pension fund amendments, he said the government has gained confidence now and would try to push through these "anti- people" legislations. "We will oppose them stoutly".

Yechury said allowing pension funds to be invested in the international market would adversely affect the hard-earned life-time savings of lakhs of employees.

"Pensioners in Mexico lost 17 per cent of their earnings between 2007-09 after their government allowed foreign investments. It will affect crores of employees in India," he said.

On amendments to the banking laws to allow more foreign directors on the boards of Indian banks, the CPI(M) leader said this would amount to "privatisation of the national banks through the back door."

Asked about the disruption in Rajya Sabha on the issue of SC/ST quota in promotions, he said the Left parties supported this move.

"However, we have also said that whenever such a promotion leads to the supersession of a general category employee, the government should create a supernumerary post to accommodate the person superseded. This is completely possible given the fact that there are a large number of vacancies in the government which have to be filled up," Yechury said.