The Hindu : National : West Bengal passes motion against deal

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Friday, Jul 18, 2008
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West Bengal passes motion against deal

Marcus Dam

KOLKATA: The Left parties are opposed not only to the India-United States civilian nuclear deal but also to the designs of the U.S. to establish its hegemony across the world. “The nuclear deal should not be viewed in isolation,” Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, told the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday.

The Left parties’ stand on the nuclear deal was in contrast to that of the Bharatiya Janata Party “that seeks a strategic partnership” with the U.S. as does the United Progressive Alliance government “which has failed to abide by an independent, non-aligned foreign policy as stipulated in the Common Minimum Programme.” The BJP was opposing the deal only to topple the government, he said.

He was speaking on a non-official motion against the nuclear deal that was later passed by the House.

While Trinamool Congress members boycotted the proceedings, those of the Congress walked out in protest against the motion being admitted for discussion, on the ground that a trust vote pertaining to the issue was scheduled in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

“We are not against nuclear power par se…..But our opposition to the nuclear deal is grounded on principles and to safeguard the country’s strategic autonomy and ensure an independent foreign policy. We will continue to oppose it both inside and outside Parliament,” the Chief Minister said.

The move to go ahead with the deal was in contravention of the decision arrived at by the UPA-Left committee on the nuclear deal that it would not go forward with the deal without the committee reaching a consensus on the issue, Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

Tilt towards U.S.

When the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was in power the country’s foreign policy had tilted towards the US. “But we realised with the years that the present government at the Centre was only following through what the NDA government had initiated in the context of the country’s leaning towards the U.S.,” he said.

“The Left parties had persistently opposed this shift in foreign policy earlier and continue to do so even now,” he added.

While the U.S.’ interests govern the Nuclear Supplies Group, the 123 Agreement was anchored in the Hyde Act. As for the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, India’s nuclear programme will be bound to it without getting assurances of uninterrupted fuel supplies and the right to build strategic reserves.

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