8216;CPM slogan used in a contradictory manner8217;

8220;Only those ignorant of the programme of the CPIM can talk of the Party saying 8216;goodbye to socialism and welcome to apitalism8217;,8221; he said.

Basu had been quoted last week as saying 8220;we want capital, both foreign and domestic. After all we are working in a capitalist system. Socialism is not possible now.8221;

The nonagenarian leader had said 8220;socialism is our political agenda8230; but capitalism will continue to be the compulsion for the future.8221; He had pointed out that CPM-led governments existed in only three states of India and asked 8220;can we say we will establish socialism on this basis?8221;

Reacting to criticism by political parties as well as CPM partner RSP, Karat said, for BJP and Congress socialism only denotes a slogan to be used as a 8220;smokescreen8221; to promote the interests of big capitalists and foreign finance capital.

8220;Joining them in the criticism is the RSP, which, unlike the CPIM, has declared socialism as its immediate goal,8221; he said, adding that the RSP could be asked why it has been working over all these years as part of Left-led governments to implement reforms and welfare measures 8220;within the capitalist system8221;.