Karat urges CPI(M) to foil US move for strategic alliance

Kolkata, Nov 1 (UNI) Warning that the attempt to make India a US ally was George Bush's strategy to counter China, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today urged the party to foil the move for a strategic alliance between the two countries.

" If India becomes an ally of the US, it will tilt the balance for imperialism. We have to ensure that the US game to make India a strategic alliance is foiled, " he said while delivering speech at a party programme observing the 90th anniversary of October revolution.

Observing that when imperialism was 'running riot' in many countries in the absence of the USSR, he said the US recognised the future threat from China, which still stood as a big socialist power.

" So having India as an ally has become a priority - it is a strategy of Mr Bush and a big game for imperialism, " he said.

" But we cannot become a willing accomplice to building up a new colonialism, cannot accept a policy of subordination to imperialism and shall not rest till this strategic tie with the US is snapped, " Mr Karat asserted.

The CPI(M) General Secretary, who was pivotal in the fierce Left opposition to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, declared that the party would take this message to the working people of the country and mobilise them on the issue.

He said the party was facing a 'big challenge' when imperialism was able to renew its offensive and colonialism rejuvenated after the downfall of the Soviet and the US was trying to establish its hegemony everywhere.

He criticised the UPA Government for 'keeping quiet' when destruction took place in Iraq or when US battles ships were sent to threaten Iran and when there was a 'horrific' Israeli attack on Palestine even as other parts of the world came out with open protests.

" Many in our country think being on the side of the US is the right path to development and will make India a super power. But it is a strategy of Mr Bush to encircle China by imperialist forces, " he said.

Mr Karat said a fight against imperialism was necessary not only to safeguard democratic rights, but also to protect the country's sovereignty.

Asserting that Marxism did not cease to exist, he admitted that traditional understanding of the philosopy would not help in today's context. " It is the party's 'historic responsibility' to apply Marxism to our own conditions and specifications and make our own path, " he said.

UNI