The Hindu : Delayed response on Iraq has affected India's image: CPI(M)

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Friday, Apr 11, 2003

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Delayed response on Iraq has affected India's image: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 10. The CPI (M) has criticised the `delayed' Indian response to the war in Iraq saying the `ambivalent' attitude of the Vajpayee Government had affected the country's image in the world.

The CPI (M) Parliamentary Party leader, Somnath Chatterjee, today said the party had demanded such a resolution much before the U.S.-led military action began in Iraq.

"If we had (adopted the resolution) with grace... the ambivalent attitude has considerably affected image of India", he said. Now, Iraq was witnessing a breakdown of law and order, looting and plunder.

Mr. Chatterjee ridiculed the images of "people's revolt", saying it was easy to "simulate and collect people" to give an impression of celebrating or rejoicing. Pointing out that the Government's task did not end with passing the resolution, the CPI (M) said it would continue to demand that "the occupation forces withdraw from Iraq and the new Government be composed of Iraqi people".

Turning to the controversy over the proposed introduction of Value Added Tax, he demanded that the Centre take steps to educate the traders about its impact and application. While not entirely agreeing with VAT, Mr. Chatterjee said now that the Finance Ministers of most States had agreed to put off its implementation to June 1, it showed that they had considered the opposition to the new legislation. The implementation of the new tax should not give the impression that it was being imposed hurriedly. Significantly, the CPI-M member and West Bengal Finance Minister, Asim Dasgupta, is the Chairman of the Empowered Committee that decided on the implementation of VAT in 16 States by June 1.

Mr. Chatterjee also criticised the arrests of MLAs and the threat to invoke of ESMA against striking Government employees in Tamil Nadu saying it showed that "parliamentary democracy has reached a nadir" in that State. The party said it strongly resented the deliberate attack on parliamentary democracy.

On the imposition of excise duty on hosiery and garments, he said the move had already evoked several protests as the levy would deal a severe blow to small-scale industries and would promote imports at the cost of domestic produce.

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