CPI(ML) to protest against Indo-US deal, jt naval exercise

Patna, Sep 3 (UNI) CPI(ML) general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya today announced that his party would launch nationwide protest from tomorrow against the joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal as it was against 'national interest'.

Mr Bhattacharya told newspersons here the US and Japan were trying to force India to become part of a NATO like organisation in Asia aimed against China as America had done against the then USSR in Europe.

''The move will boomerang as it will be against the security concern of India. Its relation with China will also be strained after the naval exercise,'' he added.

''Despite differences over various issues with China, we cannot afford to strain our relations with that country as it is against the spirit of India's foreign policy which envisages maintaining good relations with neighbours,'' he pointed out.

Mr Bhattacharya questioned the wisdom of the UPA government behind organising such exercises as the US had 'never been' a trusted ally of India. ''USA's interference in this region will increase if we allow such military exercises in the Bay of Bengal,'' he averred.

Referring to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(ML) leader said the UPA government had 'compromised' national interests and it was misleading the nation by claiming the deal was finalised keeping the requirement of energy in focus. The total contribution of nuclear energy in overall energy production was just 3 per cent and it would not grow to even 7 per cent despite huge investment and import of technology from abroad, he added.

''After the Indo-US nuclear deal comes into force, we will be at the mercy of the US and its allies for supply of nuclear reactor and fuel. Earlier experience with the US on nuclear agreement had not been good, as it had abruptly scrapped such agreement in 1978 which was signed for thirty years in 1963,'' Mr Bhattacharya reminded.

Asked about the resistance of Left parties to the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said the Left alliance should withdraw support to the UPA government in national interest, if needed.

''The interest of the country is greater than the survival of the government and the Left should not hesitate in pulling the string if the situation so warrants,'' he remarked.

Mr Bhattacharya said during the 25-day long agitation culminating in New Delhi on September 28, the party would educate the people about the repercussions of both the Indo-US nuclear deal and the naval exercise and demand resignation of the Congress led UPA government if it 'lacked' the courage to scrap the deal.

UNI