The Hindu : National : Left deplores U.S. `interference'

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

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National

Left deplores U.S. `interference'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18. The Left parties today criticised interference by the United States in the India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government should also "deplore" Washington's "interference."

The Communist Party of India said America's policy towards West Asia was well-known and that after Afghanistan and Iraq, it was trying hard for a regime change in Iran. The party said the U.S. has levelled the "same old charges'' against Iran and in its pursuit to impose its will on the people of West Asia, it "tries to dictate what relations should be there between India and Iran and all other West Asian countries."

"The UPA Government should deplore the U.S. interference and reiterate our commitment to an independent foreign policy and to economic cooperation with friendly countries such as Iran in West Asia. Iran pipeline once materialised will be a great safeguard for energy in South and West Asia,'' the party Central Secretariat said in a statement.

The CPI (M) Polit Bureau, in session here, said that the United States had "no business'' to interfere in a decision among three sovereign countries to cooperate in building a gas pipeline. "It is good that the Indian Foreign Minister stated India's intention to continue discussions with Iran on the project,'' a statement said.

It also said that the Bush administration has targeted Iran and was adopting the familiar patter of raising false charges to isolate a country that does not bow to its dictates. "Both India and Pakistan Governments would do well to rebuff such arrogant interference and proceed with the project speedily which will be of benefit to all three countries concerned," the Polit Bureau said in its statement.

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