The Hindu : Against Parliament resolution, says Opposition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003

National

National

Against Parliament resolution, says Opposition

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 16. The opposition to send troops to Iraq today became intense with the Committee on War against Iraq lending its voice against the proposal.

The committee decided to convey its stand on the day a team from the Pentagon arrived here to respond to New Delhi's queries on the subject.

At a meeting here, leaders of various political parties, including the Congress, were exercised that the U.S. request for Indian troops was being considered in the backdrop of the unanimous resolution adopted by Parliament, against the war and demanding withdrawal of the U.S. /British troops from the region.

The thrust of the argument against the proposal was that it went against the Parliament resolution, that the Indian troops would be under the U.S. command against the country's self-respect and also questioned the reasons being advanced for deployment.

`Sinister move'

In his opening remarks, the CPI(M) Parliamentary party leader, Somnath Chatterjee, said that it was a "sinister move that will compromise India's sovereignty'' and that the troops would be acting as a "mercenary force".

The CPI(M) politburo member, Prakash Karat, said the U.S. had approached 15 countries to send troops and till date countries which have committed troops were all either from NATO or military allies of the U.S.

He said the request to India to send a full division of its Army was the biggest contingent being asked for and if New Delhi agreed, India's force would be the third largest under the U.S. command.

Notwithstanding New Delhi's denial about the U.S. request for troops, he said, U.S. Embassy officials met Army authorities here on May 6 to discuss the issue and sought to know how long these negotiations were going on.

"The Vajpayee Government is not telling the truth... And is behaving like a junior partner (to the U.S. Government)'', he said, adding that on deployment the Indian troops would have to act as per the U.S. command which at present was shooting demonstrators and launching military operations against the popular opposition.

The CPI National Secretary, D. Raja, sought to know what consensus the Vajpayee Government was attempting to build in the face of the Parliamentary resolution.

The JD (S) chief, H.D. Deve Gowda, in a letter to the Prime Minister has conveyed his opposition to send troops. He said it would be contrary to the spirit of the Parliament resolution. India could consider the request for help provided it came from a government formed by the people of Iraq either on their own or under the supervision of the United Nations.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National