CPM against strategic alliance with US: Karat

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News


Madurai, Sep 21: The CPI(M) will strongly oppose any move by the Centre to enter into a strategic alliance with the United States, party General Secretary Prakash Karat said.

Addressing a public meeting after unveiling a life-size bronze statue of late freedom fighter and communist stalwart P Ramamoorthy, here last night, Mr Karat said the CPM had made its point clear to the UPA Government. ''CPI(M) will not allow American imperialism and it is for them (the Congress) to decide whether to fulfil the commitment made to the people in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) or to enter into a nuclear deal with the US.

He said the party proposed a nationwide campaign to explain its stand on the nuclear deal. ''We are going to the people with a confidence that the issue would get people's support,'' he said.

''The party will continue to support the UPA Government, till they do not enter into a strategic alliance with the US.'' Stating that the third meeting of the UPA-Left Committee would be held on October five, he said the party was ready to discuss the issue as many times at the meetings provided they (UPA Government) do not operationalise it.

Mr Karat said the party was not against nuclear energy. ''But, it must be self-reliant and should not depend on a foreign nation. We should not import nuclear equipment or fuel, instead we should develop the technology on our own.'' ''Nuclear energy contributes only three per cent of the country's total requirement. If the nuclear deal with the US becomes operational, a total of 20,000 MW could be produced by 2020. It will be just seven per cent of the total requirement.'' ''Under the deal, multinationals could easily enter into India and invest in atomic energy sector,'' he cautioned.

Bashing the BJP for instigating communal tensions on the Ram Sethu issue, he alleged that the BJP was not bothered about common man's problems.

''The BJP is trying to gain political mileage on the issue. They do not bother about the Indo-US nuclear deal. Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had openly stated that the US was country's natural ally,'' he added. UNI

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