The Hindu : National : Do not succumb to U.S. pressure, Buddhadeb tells UPA Government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 13, 2006

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National

Do not succumb to U.S. pressure, Buddhadeb tells UPA Government

Special Correspondent

"We are in the midst of an economic, political and foreign policy crisis"

Photo: M. Vedhan

CAUTIONING THE CENTRE: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee waves to the crowd at a public meeting in Chennai on Saturday. With him (from right) are N. Varadarajan, State CPI(M) secretary, and A.K. Padmanabhan and T.K. Rangarajan, central committee members.

CHENNAI: Asking the Centre to pursue an independent foreign policy, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday warned against succumbing to pressure by the United States on the nuclear deal.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Mr. Bhattacharjee said Americans wanted India under their umbrella. "Our country is passing through a very difficult situation on all fronts — economic, political and foreign policy. We are in the midst of a crisis."

But the CPI (M) had to support the United Progressive Alliance Government as the alternative was to support the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Dangerous development"

Pointing out that the Public Distribution System had collapsed throughout the country, he said the Government was forced to import wheat from the U.S. This was a dangerous development. Although prices of essential commodities were increasing every day, the Government was sitting idle, Mr. Bhattacharjee said. Thousands of farmers had committed suicide because they could not get adequate prices for their crops.

The UPA Government, he said, was determined to disinvest from some of the country's important public undertakings which were not only making profit but also formed the backbone of the economy. Referring to the move to disinvest the Government's stake in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, he said: "We stopped them. The workers protested the disinvestment in NLC and I must congratulate the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu and particularly the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for opposing this idea."

The last time he had come to Tamil Nadu, the then AIADMK Government had "virtually declared a war against its own employees," Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

Position of strength

Delving on the difference in the approach of India and China in seeking investment, he said: "We are begging before the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But China is confronting them from a position of strength. That is the difference."

He had discussed these issues with the Prime Minister. "Why can't we join with China and Russia? If India, China and Russia come closer, then we can withstand the pressure of the U.S. Instead, we are going to be a junior partner of the U.S."

The CPI (M) was mobilising funds for helping the victims of Israel's aggression in Lebanon.

N. Varadarajan, CPI (M) State Secretary, A.K. Padmanabhan, Central Committee Member, T. Nandagopal, South Chennai District Secretary, were among those who addressed the gathering.

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