The Hindu : National : Reluctance to clinch pipeline deal smacks of U.S. pressure: CPI(M)

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Reluctance to clinch pipeline deal smacks of U.S. pressure: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

To remove this perception, conclude agreement during Pranab’s Tehran visit

Obvious link between India-U.S. nuclear deal and government’s unwillingness to concretise pipeline
“Resolve all outstanding concerns with Iran”

NEW DELHI: Stating that the government’s reluctance to conclude the India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deal has raised suspicion of U.S. pressure, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked it to use External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Tehran next month to clinch the agreement for negating this perception.

In an editorial in the latest issue of People’s Democracy, official mouthpiece of the CPI(M), the party has questioned the proponents of the India-U.S. nuclear deal who are crying hoarse that it is essential to augment the country’s energy security.

Energy security

“Apart from our counter arguments on this score, analysed in these columns repeatedly on earlier occasions, if this concern for our energy security is so paramount, why is the Indo-Iranian gas pipeline not seeing the light of the day?”

The editorial says one cannot escape the obvious connection between the India-U.S. nuclear deal and the government’s reluctance to concretise the gas pipeline project, which is widely accepted as both economical and important to augment the country’s energy requirements.

The 123 Agreement is deeply anchored in the U.S. Hyde Act, which on three occasions mentions specifically that Washington expects New Delhi to toe its line vis-À-vis Iran. The Hyde Act also expects India to follow a foreign policy that is “congruent” with U.S. policy.

“Under these circumstances, if the UPA Government wishes to negate this perception that it is succumbing to U.S. pressure then the External Affairs Minister’s scheduled visit to Tehran on July 29-30 to attend the India-Iran Joint Commission meeting must be utilised as the opportunity to clinch this pipeline deal.”

The editorial points out that during the debate on the nuclear deal in both Parliament and outside, the UPA government has been repeatedly asserting that it would not allow any dilution of India’s independent foreign policy.

It was also asserted that India would never succumb to U.S. pressures in its dealings with other countries. But the government’s reluctance to conclude the Iran gas pipeline deal at the earliest, when it is universally accepted that it is one of the best options for India’s energy security, naturally raises the suspicion that this is happening under U.S. pressure.

“It is well known that U.S. imperialism is targeting Iran and imposing sanctions seeking to replicate the pattern that it used against Iraq. India can never be a party to such U.S. imperialism’s hegemonic strategies,” says the editorial.

“In the light of this, it is absolutely imperative that Mr. Mukherjee during his visit to Tehran must take up this issue and resolve the outstanding concerns with Iran. Talks with Pakistan should also be initiated to resolve the transit fee dispute.

“This is of utmost importance for India’s energy security as the cheapest available option.”

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