CPI slasms UPA's decision to allow US warship to dock

New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today strongly condemned the UPA Government's decision to permit the nuclear powered American warship ''Nimitz'' to dock at Chennai port.

The party in a press statement here has expressed its surprise at the Government's decision as it is against the nation's longstanding policy of not allowing nuclear powered offensive naval vessels to enter Indian waters.

''Nimitz has been positioned in the Persian Gulf waters by the Bush administration with the specific intent of threatening and bullying Iran. Bombing raids conducted from this aircraft carrier has resulted in the death of thousands of innocent Afghan civilians,'' the statement said.

It is regrettable India is permittng such an offensive weapon system of American imperialism to come to our country for so called rest and recreation, it said.

The UPA's decision is yet another manifestation of the pressure Indian foreign policy is being subjected to by Washington, emanating out of our military cooperation with the US and the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The CPI urged the Government to reverse this decision immediately.

UNI