Go to people you want to be pro-US: Karat to Cong

Kottayam, Kerala, Feb 11 (UNI) Toughening its stand against Indo-US strategic alliance, the CPI(M) today made it clear that 'if the Congress wanted to pursue such policies, then it should seek a fresh mandate.' Party General Secretary Prakash Karat, while inaugurating the party state conference here, said the Left would not allow the UPA government to forge strategic alliance, including the nuclear agreement, with the US.

''If the Congress likes to have such a strategic alliance with the US, take the issue to the people in the next Lok Sabha elections, he said.'' Mr Karat also criticised the Centre for allowing the ISRO to launch an Isreali spy satellite. ''By launching the Israeli spy satellite, India is helping Israel's 'hostile activities' against Arab countries,'' he charged.

Outlining an alternative to the Congress and the BJP at the Centre, Mr Karat said the third alternative would not be a 'Left agenda' but a platform for all secular forces.

Stating that the coming party congress would discuss the issue in detail, he said the third alternative would be based on the policies of 'consistent stance' against communalism and for pro-people economic policies and independent foreign policy.

The CPI(M) being the largest Left unit would discharge the responsibility of uniting and strengthening ties between Left parties, he added.

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