US air assualt on Iraq should open India's eyes:Left

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) Terming the US air assault on Iraq as ''barbaric'', the Left parties today said it was a reminder to the Manmohan Singh government of the ''dangers of toeing the US line'' on economic and foreign policies.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said his party condemned the ''vicious and aggressive'' air attacks, the largest operation since 2003 despite the fact that Iraq was under US military occupation.

US imperialism requires to take recourse to such massive operation in order to suppress the popular resitance, said Mr Yechury.

He said this should remind the UPA government of the actual designs of the US imperialism and its global strategies. The US government's pressure on India and Russia not to enter into an arrangement for the supply of uranium to the Tarapur plant clearly vindicated the CPI(M) position that the US should use the recent nuclear deal for its infamous ''carrot and stick policy,'' he added.

CPI national secretary Shamim Faizi said the renewed attack on Baghdad was a sign of the US desperation as the resistance against its ''illegal and inhumane'' occupation was growing with every passing day.

''The barbaric attack on the civilian population needs to be condemned in the strongest possible manner. Today, on the third anniversary of the US occupation of Iraq, we call upon all peace loving and democratic forces to raise their voice against this vicious attack,'' Mr Faizi said.

CPI Parlimentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha, Gurudas Dasgupta, said, ''It is outrageous. The attack confirms the US imperialist agenda.'' Forward Bloc Secretary G Devarajan said the attack spoke of the 'high handedness'' of the US.

The US forces yesterday launched what was called the biggest air assault since the US-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital of Iraq.

UNI KSA/FZ VD KN1802