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Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007
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Left ‘unable to accept’ 123 agreement

Special Correspondent

It says: don’t operationalise it

NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Tuesday said they were “unable to accept” the 123 agreement in the context of the “burgeoning strategic alliance” with the United States, and asked the Government not to operationalise it.

After a coordination committee meeting, the parties said Parliament should review the strategic aspects of India’s ties with the U.S. They would press for a Constitutional amendment to make Parliament ratification mandatory for treaties and certain bilateral agreements.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told journalists that the parties were yet to decide on the strategy to be adopted in Parliament. “The Government would have to take into account the across-the-board opposition expressed by political parties.”

Mr. Karat said the 123 agreement should not be seen in isolation but in the context of the overall strategic tie-up with the U.S. The nuclear deal was an integral part of the July 2005 joint statement, which had political, economic and strategic aspects. It was also linked to the June 2005 military framework agreement with the U.S.

It was, therefore, not possible to view the text of the 123 agreement as a “separate and compartmentalised entity without considering its implications for India’s independent foreign policy, strategic autonomy and the repercussions of the U.S. quest to make India its reliable ally in Asia.”

(On the sidelines of a function to bid farewell to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the Parliament House Annexe, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he would speak to Left leaders on the issue).

CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan, its national secretary D. Raja, Abani Roy of the RSP and G. Devarajan of the AIFB were present.

A joint statement said: “The Left parties had earlier cautioned the Government against accepting the nuclear cooperation with the United States on terms that compromises its independent foreign policy and its sovereign rights for developing a self-reliant nuclear programme.”

“They had asked the UPA Government to desist from proceeding with the negotiations for the 123 agreement until the inimical provisions of the Hyde Act are cleared out of the way… The Left calls upon the Government not to proceed further with operationalising the agreement.”

The parties also decided to organise two “jathas” along the eastern coast against the joint naval exercises with the U.S. and other countries.

Related Stories:
Hyde Act provisions can be used to terminate 123 pact, says Left

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