The Hindu : MNCs paying bribes: CPI(M)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 05, 2002

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MNCs paying bribes: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 4. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today demanded a through probe into the revelations made by the American multi-national, Xerox Corporation, and punish all those involved in it.

The CPI(M) politburo said in a statement that it was imperative for Parliament to initiate a mechanism of high-level inquiry into such cases. "It is ironical that such cases are reported and come to light only when legal steps against these companies are initiated in the United States of America. On the contrary, they are being given a red carpet treatment by the Vajpayee Government'', the party said.

It alleged that Xerox and its Indian subsidiary, Xerox Modi Corporation, were guilty like many other multinational corporations of paying bribes to secure control of both markets and profits in India. The Enron company had already admitted paying $20 million as bribe. There were instances of how soft drink manufacturers like Coca Cola and Pepsi were garnering precious water resources at ridiculous prices, it said.

"The Vajpayee Government is patronising such brazen corruption and continues to take decisions to expand the area of operations of multinational corporations in India, which elsewhere in the world are notorious for such practices. The opening up of the Indian print media to MNCs is yet another instance'', the party added.

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