The Hindu : Serious shift in foreign policy: CPI(M)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2003

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Serious shift in foreign policy: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH. 4. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today charged the Vajpayee Government with making a "serious shift" in India's foreign policy by professing a "middle path" on Iraq. The party demanded that the Government make its stand clear whether it was against war.

Protesting against the Prime Minister's statement in the Lok Sabha on Monday that while keeping a watch over the developments in the region it advocated a "middle path", the CPI(M) Parliamentary Party leader said: "What is the middle path when there is a threat of war and the U.S. wants to establish its hegemony over Iraq ?"

Referring to a reported statement by the U.S. Ambassador, Robert Blackwill, that his country endorsed the Vajpayee Government's stand on Iraq, Mr. Chatterjee said it amounted to direct interference in India's internal matters. "As if we are waiting for a certificate from the Ambassador", he said.

Mr. Chatterjee said leaders of the Opposition parties today held a meeting here to ensure proper coordination in Parliament.

He said there was unanimity in taking up issues like hike in fertilizer prices, Ayodhya and problems of farmers.

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