Centre surrendering strategic interests to US pressures: CPI-M

Hitting out at the Centre, the CPI(M) today alleged that President Barack Obama's visit has resulted in India "surrendering" its strategic and economic interests to "US pressures".
The party's Politburo also claimed that the Joint Strategic Vision on the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region "aligns India" to the US strategic "pivot" to Asia, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East policy is now "dovetailed".
"The outcome of the visit of President Obama has resulted in the Modi government surrendering on some of the vital interests of the country both, strategic and economic, to US pressures.
"...In sum, the Modi government has set the course for a subordinate relationship with the US," CPI(M) said in a statement.

It said the Civil Nuclear Liability Act passed by Parliament in 2010 was meant to protect the right to Indian citizens to due compensation and relief in the event of a nuclear accident.
"The liability of the supplier of nuclear reactors and equipment was specifically introduced given the dismal experience of the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy. The Modi government in order to meet the persistent US demand to nullify such clauses in the law has chosen to circumvent them.

"By creating an insurance pool by Indian public sector insurance companies and financial contribution of Indian government together amounting to Rs 1,500 crore, effectively, the supplier's liability has been transferred entirely onto India and its taxpayers," the party said.

It added that to circumvent Section 46 of the Act wherein victims of a nuclear accident can sue for damages against the operator or supplier, the Modi government has promised to issue a "memorandum of law" to dilute the intent of this clause, which in itself is a "dubious" step legally.
The party said that it was being done to fulfill the UPA government's promise to import 10,000 MW of nuclear reactors from the US as a quid pro quo for the nuclear deal.