HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India has demanded that the United Progressive Alliance Government take steps to ensure that the country signs international agreements and treaties after thoroughly discussing them in both Houses of Parliament.

The Government should bring in a Constitutional amendment, if necessary, to this effect, and make sure that the agreements and treaties signed by the country are binding and effective only if they are ratified by the Parliament. "If there is need for amending the Constitution, so be it," said CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan.

Briefing reporters on the proceedings of the CPI National Council meeting on Sunday, Mr. Bardhan expressed serious concern over the continuing drift of the UPA Government on foreign policy-related issues in the Common Minimum Programme. It appeared that the UPA Government was continuing the NDA Government's policy of forging "strategic relations" with the United States and gradually distancing itself from non-aligned and developing countries that were natural allies.

It was amazing that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke about the reciprocity in the India-U.S. deal in Parliament claiming that the negotiations were held as equals.

"But the clauses that were incorporated by the American Congress and the Senate brings out the truth of U.S. intentions on imposing one-sided conditions on India," he said.

The CPI National Council expressed concern over the threat to the food security of the people due to forward trading in essential commodities and wanted the Government to strengthen and expand the public distribution system besides putting in place an effective mechanism for procurement of grains. "The Government should have launched a de-hoarding drive if it is keen on food security," he said.

The Council welcomed the positive developments during the two-year UPA rule while it was severely critical of the decisions that "we think are open violation of the CMP."

The CPI National Council would launch a weeklong struggle against the rising prices from July 13, and would continue the struggle if the hike continued, he said.

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