The Hindu : Front Page : No forward movement on nuclear deal, says CPI(M)

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Monday, Jan 21, 2008
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No forward movement on nuclear deal, says CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

For the first time, draft political resolution takes note of climate change, global warming

U.S. trying to extend its influence in South Asia
Centre criticised for supporting sanctions against Iran

NEW DELHI: Even as the government negotiators are holding talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on a safeguards agreement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday said there was no forward movement on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.

“Negotiations are still on with the IAEA. Let them come back with the draft and report to the UPA-Left joint committee on the nuclear deal. The committee will decide about it but it is not going beyond it. There is no forward movement,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here. He said the understanding between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties was that the government would negotiate with the IAEA and present the outcome to the committee.

Referring to the Indo-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement, the draft political resolution for the coming 19th party congress, released on Sunday, noted the firm stand taken by the CPI(M) and the other Left parties to oppose the deal, which brought the issue to the centre stage.

“The party and the Left decided that they would do whatever is necessary to block the agreement. Faced with the political consequences of such a confrontation with the Left, the Congress and the UPA decided not to proceed further with the operationalisation of the agreement. This is a significant step forward in the struggle to prevent the United States making India its junior partner,” the resolution said.

The CPI(M) had exposed the adverse impact the deal would have on India’s independent foreign policy. “India becoming a strategic ally of the United States would be a major gain for U.S. imperialism. The party decided to oppose the nuclear agreement as it was the cementing factor for such an alliance,” the resolution said.

Mr. Karat said the U.S. was making a “concerted bid” to extend its influence in South Asia. “The U.S. is trying to build strategic, security and military ties with countries in the region.” At the same time, a struggle for democracy was on in most South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Reiterating that the CPI(M) stood for an independent foreign policy, the resolution said it required engaging with all the major countries without entering into a strategic alliance with the U.S. “India-Russia-China trilateral relations should be promoted, the India-Brazil-South Africa forum and South-South cooperation strengthened, and relations with the countries of West Asia and South East Asia enhanced. The party has supported the Indo-Pakistan composite dialogue. It considers the improvement of relations with Pakistan by settling the outstanding disputes as the key to ending terrorism in the subcontinent and to open the way for regional cooperation and prosperity in South Asia,” the resolution noted.

The Indo-U.S. Defence Framework Agreement, if implemented, would convert India into a military ally of the U.S. The CPI(M) had mobilised the people to oppose the joint military exercises with the U.S., such as those conducted at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal and the five-nation naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal.

Gas pipeline deal

The resolution faulted the UPA government for going along with the unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran and not showing any urgency to finalise the gas pipeline agreement.

For the first time, Mr. Karat said, the resolution took note of climate change and global warming, which was going to affect nearly 40 per cent of the world’s poor.

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