Date:10/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/10/stories/2007081056461400.htm

National

No change in stand: Karat

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prakash Karat general secretary said here on Thursday that there was no going back on the Left parties’ opposition to the nuclear deal with the United States.

Inaugurating “Quit India Day” anniversary programmes, organised by the Kerala University Students’ Union, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly said “there is no going back” on the deal. “We also want to make it clear that there is no going back on our opposition to it.”

Mr. Karat said:

“The United Progressive Alliance Government is in minority in Parliament as far the nuclear deal is concerned. The Government will not be able to get the agreement ratified in Parliament. We will not only oppose the deal in Parliament categorically and decisively. We will also go to people and mobilise them against the deal.

“If the Government still wants to pursue the deal, it will have to pay a heavy political price. It will not only face the opposition of the Left parties, but also of people as a whole.”

The nuclear deal cannot be seen as an isolated incident. It was part of a larger strategic alliance that the U.S. was trying to forge with India. The Centre should clarify to people what was the common strategic goal of India and the U.S.

“The U.S. launched its onslaught on Iraq as part of its designs to gain control over the oil reserves in West Asia. It is with the same goal that it is now targeting Iran. Does India also share the same intentions?” Mr. Karat asked.

The present rulers of the country seemed to be thinking that India could become a “great power” with the support of the U.S. “But they forget the price that India will to pay to receive the U.S.’ assistance.” The Left would strongly oppose any effort to make India a junior partner of the U.S.-led imperialist alliance.

The previous NDA regime started the initiative in forging a strategic alliance with the U.S., and the present UPA Government appeared to be completing them. And yet, the Common Minimum Programmeof the UPA does not mention anything about strategic partnership with the U.S., Mr Karat said.