CPM sees red over US envoy's meeting with Indian leaders

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPM) on Thursday lashed out at US Charge d'Affaires A. Peter Burleigh for what it termed an interference in Indian elections.

"US is welcome to find out what is happening on the political situation but cannot interfere in the internal political matters of the country," CPM Politburo member and parliamentary group leader, Sitaram Yechury, told reporters here.

Burleigh, who took over as the chef de mission in New Delhi over a month ago, met the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani on Wednesday. The two are said to discussed bilateral ties and the regional situation in Pakistan as well as the future of the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation.

Burleigh also held talks with Praja Rajyam Party President Chiranjeevi and Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party. The meeting with Naidu triggered speculations that the US diplomat is trying to persuade Naidu not to back a Third Front Government.

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy has denied allegations of interference in the Indian poll process.

"It was a very routine visit by the American diplomats. It was planned a long time in advance. Peter Burleigh asked for a meeting with the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani a month ago. The meeting is part of the consultations before Hillary Clinton's visit to India. There is no effort to interfere in the elections in India. Nor is there an effort to involve America in Indian coalition politics," a US Embassy spokesman said. (ANI)