Left parties to protest nuke deal, joint naval exercises

Bangalore, Sep 3 (UNI) The Left parties will launch a week-long stir in Karnataka as part of their nationwide protest against the Indo-US nuclear agreement and the joint naval exercises with the US tomorrow.

Talking to newspersons here, CPM State Secretary G N Nagaraj said the nuclear deal with the US would bind the people to follow the 'diktats' of the US and adversely affect the armed forces, agriculture, industry, education and judiciary.

''The nuclear deal is not just for nuclear energy alone but has many strings are attached to it. The US is demanding strategic defence ties as part of the strategic initiative. Ports in India will be have to be allowed for use by the US navy and India will be forced to sign the maritime trade security agreement.

''Interoperability agreement between the two countries will force India to depend on the US for defence purchases,'' he alleged.

He claimed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ministers and bureaucrats were confusing the people with ''half truths and total lies''.

In the joint naval exercises in Indian waters tomorrow, apart from the US, Japan, Australia and Singapore would also participate.

Mr Nagaraj said as part of the nationwide protests, the Left parties would conduct a campaign against the deal from September four to eight. On the last day, there would be a big rally at Visakhapatnam.

UNI