Indian foreign policies influenced by America: Karat

Patna, Aug 29: CPI (M) National General secretary Prakash Karat today said the UPA government's independent foreign policy was influenced under American pressure.

Mr Karat told newspersons here that instead of adhering to its independent foreign policies, India was acting under the impact of American pressure and has compromised with its policies at international level during the past two years.

He said the stand-off UPA government on Iran issue and nuclear deal was not at all a part of independent foreign policy, but was an outcome of American influence. He said the central government should stick to its independent foreign policies as mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

Mr Karat said his party had evaluated the performances of UPA during its two years of regime and found that barring one or two points like National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme, right to information the central government failed to implement the promises made in the CMP.

He lambasted the centre for its economic, agricultural and food policies saying that his party had suggested measures to control price rise. He asked the government for reforming its tax structure in the petroleum sector in order to control its price as the soaring prices of petroleum and diesel in turn was escalating the prices of essential commodities.

Mr Karat said the land of farmers being acquired for developing economic zones were aimed to benefit multinationals and big business houses. He stresssed the need for proper implementation of land reform act and for framing a law for the labourers of unorganised sector.

UNI