No compromise with US imperialism: Karat

Vijayawada, Sep 7: Ruling out any compromise on 'US imperialism,' CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today asked the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre to decide soon on whether to continue to ally with Washington on the nuclear deal or safeguard India's interests.

Addressing a meeting as part of the Left parties' five-day 'Jatha' (march) against India's naval exercises with the US in the Bay of Bengal, Mr Karat said the Left parties were opposing the military exercises because of India signing a ten-year nuclear agreement with the US.

Since Independence, no government at the Centre had signed these type of agreements with any other country and added the Left was continuing its outside support to the UPA only to ensure a secular regime at the Centre and keep the communal forces at bay.

Mr Karat recalled the CPI (M) had opposed the BJP-led Government at the Centre from 1998 to 2004 ''as it promoted communal platform and a pro-imperialist government.'' Mr Karat said the US showed its growing influence to the then Vajpayee Government which ''ruined the economic policies besides opening more sectors to privatisation.'' The CPI (M) leader said the people had ''punished' the BJP in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections only because it allegedly construed the US as its natural ally.

Mr Karat said the Left informed the UPA Government that if it wanted to pursue the common minimum programme (CMP), it should make it clear that India would pursue an independent foreign policy and have friendly relationship with other countries rather than other nations 'directing us'. He alleged the UPA Government signed the 123 Agreement during the first year of assuming power without informing this to its allies or the Left.

It was a matter of shame the Indian Navy was conducting a joint exercise with the US seventh fleet which came to the Bay of Bengal in 1971 and intimidated India as the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi supported the national liberation struggle in Bangladesh, Mr Karat said.

At the time, the entire country supported the government with one voice by opposing the US for its open threat.

On the invitation of the UPA now, the same seventh fleet entered the Bay of Bengal for joint naval exercises, he said.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would have forgotten history but the Left cannot give a go-by to all its decisions.

Mr Karat reminded the UPA Government cannot run or take any decision without the Left's support.

The CPI (M) would totally oppose the strategic alliance with the US in order to change the country's economic policies.

Under US pressure, the Congress Government permitted big American companies like 'Walmart' to open shop in the country leading to closure of petty shops, Mr Karat alleged. The US also exerted pressure on India to bring a legislation on allowing American banks in the financial sector. The CPI (M) leader said the nuclear deal was finalised with the US even without Parliament approval.

He categorically stated the Left parties would not allow nuclear or military agreeement with the US which was 'against the country's sovereignty.' Mr Karat also said there was a campaign that the Left was allying with the BJP on opposing the nuclear deal and added the party stand was different as Leader of the Opposition L K Advani had allegedly supported military collaboration with the US.

The Left was only supporting the government from outside and would continue to fight against imperialism as it affected the livelihood of the people in the country.

On 'bhooporatam' (land struggle) in Andhra Pradesh, Mr Karat said the struggle would continue till the poor got lands.

All India Forward Block National Leader Devarajan, who accompanied Mr Karat in the 'Jatha' said the CPI, CPI (M), Foward Block and the RSP had embarked on 'Jathas' to create awareness on the implications of the nuclear deal. Mr Devarajan said the four Left parties supported the UPA under the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) thinking the Congress government would implement pro-people measures.

But the government lacked 'sincerity' on the implementation of the CMP and was instead showing maximum interest in the US.

He said though the Manmohan Singh Government signed the 123 agreement for the sake of energy security, India needed uranium which was not available in the US.

The 'Jathas' were aimed at protecting the country's democracy, sovereignty, cultural heritage, tradition and independence, he said.

CPI National Secretary and MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said the Centre had sent seven ships to participate in the joint naval exercises, involving America, Japan and Singapore.

Mr Reddy said the Left's opposition was due to America's imperialism. The 'Jatha' later left for Machilipatnam.

Addressing a meeting in Machilipatnam, Mr Karat said everyone in the country would ''panic'' over the joint naval exercise. He alleged that the US President was under the impression that India was ''an agent'' of US, which was an ''undemocratic'' setup. The UPA government had changed its foreign policy and abandoned its principles just to continue the Treaty with the US, he alleged.

The Centre should scrap the nuclear deal for the welfare of the citizens of India, he said.

He asked the Prime Minister whether his government wanted a friendship with Bush or the Left parties.

Answering a question, he said India had abundant gas resources, which could be an alternative to nuclear energy.

UNI