CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in the US to meet President Obama, and we know there has been immense pressure on India to open up the insurance and defence production sectors. We will oppose any such move.”
Addressing a public meeting at the conclusion of the 11th International Conference of the Communist and Workers’ parties here, the Marxist leader said India, which has the largest number of absolute poor people in the world, could also boast of producing a significant number of billionaires.
“According to the latest figures for 2009, there are 52 billionaires in dollar terms. The hundred richest people in India are worth $276 billion. This obscenity of riches exists alongside appaling poverty,” Karat said.
Expressing solidarity with the Palestinians, Karat said it was a matter of shame that the UPA Government struck the maximum number of arms deals with Israel.
“It is with this money that Israel funds its aggressive policies against the Palestinians, and India should pledge that no arms should be purchased from Israel unless and until it stops killing the Palestinians,” he said.
