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CPI(M): brazen U.S. interference

Sandeep Dikshit

TDP has strongly condemned envoy’s suggestions: CPI(M) leader
No party should allow external powers to meddle in our affairs: CPI

NEW DELHI: The Left parties have strongly reacted to reports that U.S. Charge d’Affaires Peter Burleigh advised a senior political leader to keep the Communists at bay while forming the next government.

The U.S. Embassy has, however, denied the allegation and maintained that Mr. Burleigh met Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for “routine consultations.”

Reacting to reports that Mr. Burleigh wanted the TDP leader to ensure that the Left parties had no role to play in the next government, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told journalists: “Reports suggest that parties are being advised whom to support and which government should be formed in India. If this is the case, I think this is gross interference in our internal affairs.”

“Could not be tolerated”

“The U.S. has revealed its character once again through its brazen interference in internal affairs of other independent countries. That cannot be tolerated,” Mr. Yechury said.

The CPI(M) leader said he “heard” that the TDP had strongly condemned such suggestions.

Mr. Burleigh was told with “quite a degree of certainty and unceremoniously not to interfere in India’s internal affairs. We strongly favour good friendly relations with the U.S. but will not brook any interference in our internal affairs.”

CPI leader D. Raja said: “I must underline that no external power should try to interfere in our political affairs and no political party should give any room to external powers to meddle in our affairs.”

“Highly deplorable”

All-India Forward Bloc secretary G. Devarajan termed American attempts to have a say in the next government “highly deplorable” and said the U.S. was engaged in creating confusion among non-BJP and non-Congress parties after sensing that the Third Front could win the largest number of seats. “This vindicates the stand of the Left parties regarding the high-handedness of U.S. imperialism,” he said.

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