'Military deal with US needs to be undone'

CPI(M) 19TH PARTY CONGRESS

In his inaugural speech at the 19th Party Congress of the CPI(M)""which will formulate future direction for the party for the next three years""the party's general secretary Prakash Karat said: "The defence framework agreement and the nuclear cooperation agreements are parts of an overarching alliance. The CPI(M) and the Left have already declared that the nuclear deal cannot go forward. But our task is not over. We have to undo the military collaboration agreement. We have to continue the struggle to disentangle India from the strategic US embrace."

The agreement signed between the UPA government and the Bush administration enhances the bilateral strategic and military cooperation.

The agreement also says the two countries will "collaborate" in multinational operations if it is in common interests. The CPI(M) feels that India has accepted the US concept of multinational operations in third countries without UN mandate.

The CPI(M) is also against the country's collaboration in missile defence. Karat maintained that the US, which is trying to build a missile defence shield by drawing in Asian countries, is offering the Patriot missile system to India with the intention of interlocking India in its missile defence system.

The CPI(M) has objections to provisions related to protecting free flow of commerce via land, air and sea lanes alongwith preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and associated materials, data and technology.

Karat feels that these provisions involve India in the US-sponsored proliferation security initiative that wants to use armed forces to guard the Malacca Straits.

The Left, he said, also has objections on co-production of defence equipment. It feels that the agreement is to lure India to buy F16 fighter planes and open the market for US weapons.

Karat used the Party Congress platform to send a clear signal to the UPA leadership that its opposition on foreign policy matters will not cease.

"The CPI(M) has been attacked and maligned for its opposition to the strategic alliance with the US and the neo-liberal economic policies. We plead guilty to both the charges. In fact, we are proud of our record in this matter. If it was not for the CPI(M) and the Left, the nuclear deal by now would have been wrapped up," he said.

He added: "It is a sad fact that many in the ruling establishment believe that the US will help us become a major world power. It is this flawed outlook that has led to the hankering for a strategic alliance with the US," Karat said.

Drawing a parallel between the Congress and the BJP, Karat said: "The only difference is that the brash natural ally of the US (the BJP) has now been converted into a demure strategic partner (the Congress)."

For the Congress, which might again need the Left's help to form a government after the next general elections, this is also a clear "dos and don'ts list".