NEW DELHI: The Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance Government's approach to foreign policy is contrary to the National Common Minimum Programme and against the country's security interests, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Monday. The party said it would work to reverse "this course," harmful to India and its people.

The CPI (M) would announce its stand on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal after the Prime Minister set out the details of the accord in Parliament. The concern was not just over the nuances of the deal but also at the "unacceptable price India will have to pay in terms of its independent foreign policy and strategic autonomy," the Polit Bureau said in a statement.

The U.S. already extracted a price, by making the UPA Government reverse its stand on the Iran nuclear issue. More such demands would emanate from the tie-up with Washington.

Implications of deal

Citing the implications of a U.S. partnership, the party said the Government had accommodated Washington's concerns on Iran, endorsed its version of democracy, reinterpreted the energy policy by placing undue reliance on nuclear power and, "most dangerously," had become the U.S. military ally.

The CPI (M) considered the Manmohan-Bush joint statement "a step away from an independent foreign policy and an erosion of India's autonomy." The statement dealt with economic ties, political and ideological commitments, agreements on agricultural research, strategic military ties and nuclear cooperation. "While the focus is on the nuclear deal, it is wrong to see it in isolation from the overall architecture of the emerging alliance. The sum total of Bush's visit was to draw India closer into the U.S. strategic plans in Asia."

"Loss of economic sovereignty"

The joint statement welcomed reports submitted by the Indo-U.S. CEO Forum and the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, which contained the blueprint for opening up sectors of the economy, including defence, to U.S. capital. Echoing these demands, President Bush in his Purana Qila speech called for opening up all sectors to FDI. "Acceptance of this blueprint would entail loss of economic sovereignty and have adverse consequences for our domestic agriculture industry," the CPI (M) said.

The Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture would facilitate American multinationals to decide the agenda of Indian agricultural research.

Referring to India's plans to join the International Centre for Democratic Transition, the CPI (M) said it was "a U.S. platform to advance its hegemonic aims using the signboard of democracy." The party also denounced Mr. Bush's call for a regime change in Cuba, Iran, Syria and Zimbabwe. To this end the "democracy project," which India joined, would be utilised.The large-scale collaboration signalled by the Indo-U.S. defence deal, signed in June 2005, was taken forward with the Maritime Cooperation Framework and the Logistics Support Agreement.

"This will further link the Indian armed forces with their U.S. counterparts. India will also have to purchase U.S. fighter planes and other weaponry worth billions of dollars."

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