Probe required in IPL row: Yechury

Yechury said the CPM has been maintaining that a thorough probe is necessary,especially in the wake of allegations that Pawar’s family members were involved in the bidding process. Yechury said that the JPC should probe all the ramifications of the IPL controversy.

He called IPL a part of ‘crony capitalism’ and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his speeches had clearly said India cannot afford crony capitalism. “The manner in which the BCCI and the IPL body have conducted the bids and the franchising have raised many issues. The matter cannot be disposed of with some routine enquiries conducted by the agencies under the finance ministry. The route of the money coming into the country should be traced and capitalising on the people’s emotions towards the game is uncalled for,” he said.

On the recent West Bengal municipal elections,in which his party suffered a setback,he said although they were not able to reverse the outcome,the CPM was able to arrest their downfall against the Trinamool party. He claimed that most parts of the state dominated by the Communist party were not able to vote.

Yechury said Maoist violence was a grave internal security threat and a multi-pronged approach could be the solution. “A better law and order situation,political will and economic stability will help address the situation,” he said. He added the defence forces should focus on fighting enemies at the borders and not address internal matters. “They should not be used to address an internal security matter,” he said.

Later,at the public meeting,he said the UPA government’s one-year report card was far from satisfactory. From hike in fuel prices and inflation to food security and women’s reservation,there are several issues which the government is yet to address.

Yechury also denounced the judgment on the Bhopal gas tragedy and said the CPM would pressurise the government to reinvestigate the case.

“With the main culprits absconding,the case has to be taken up again. The compensation amount disbursed to the victims is very less. The judgment is a blot on our judicial system,” he said.