Narendra Modi's foreign tours failed to rake in FDI: Sitaram Yechury

KOZHIKODE: Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury today said his main goal of garnering foreign direct investment (FDI) had not succeeded and the investment flow into the country had declined.

"The central theme of all his (Modi's) visits is to attract foreign investments - to invite NRIs to invest in India. Despite all his efforts FDI has decreased, FII flow declined," Yechury told reporters here.

In spite of the Centre's claims of improving economic situation, the ground reality was different, he said.

Referring to Modi's proposed visit to Israel, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, he said CPI-M had been demanding on the floor of the parliament cancellation of arms purchase from that country as the profit made from it was used to fight against the Palestinian people.

"India is rapidly moving towards the United State's imperial policies," he charged.

Charging the NDA Government with pursuing "anti-India" and "anti-people" policies of the BJP, he said the Left would take the support of all political parties to fight against it.

"Left is the most consistent party fighting against the BJP both inside and outside the Parliament. We will take support of all to fight against the anti-people policies of the BJP government," he said.

He demanded that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde step down from their respective offices until corruption and other charges against them were investigated and cleared.

"No action has been taken on corruption charges against ministers. No action against MPs giving communal speeches" Yechury said.

Attacking the Congress, he said it had lost its credibility in fighting corruption as the present government came to power only due to its (Congress) policies and various scams.

To a question on the recent Aruvikkara bypoll outcome, he said "the result shows communalisation of people in Kerala which is a dangerous trend".

While the LDF vote share declined by seven per cent and UDF vote share by 10 per cent, the BJP's vote share had gone up by 23 per cent. "It is a matter of concern," he said.

On the political situation in West Bengal, he said BJP and TMC were coming closer. "Many TMC ministers and MPs are arrested (in Saradha chit fund scam). In this situation, TMC needs BJP support. In turn, BJP needs TMC support in the Rajya Sabha where it has no majority," he said.