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V.P. Singh, Gujral not for sending troops to Iraq

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 24 . Two former Prime Ministers, V. P. Singh and I. K. Gujral, have opposed the move to send Indian troops to Iraq and urged the Government to explain its compulsions in a forthright manner to the U.S. Government.

Welcoming the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's approach for a national consensus on the issue and appreciating the Government's desire for friendship and cooperation with the U.S., they said in a joint statement that better bilateral ties need not hinge upon this single issue.

Recalling the U.S. Ambassador, Robert Blackwill's statement that India's refusal to send troops would not adversely affect Indo-U.S. relations, they said "for Indo-U.S. relations to reach a level of maturity, the two partners should communicate to each other in a transparent manner".

If in India's judgment, U.S.' policies had violated the U.N. charter and international law, it would be in the interest of strengthening Indo-American relations for India to say so to her strategic partner. "We are not suggesting that India should start an international campaign against America. But good friends should speak to each other frankly in private. The American democracy, we are sure, will have respect for such a friend.''They objected to the urging by some institutions and organisations to take a decision on the basis of reconstruction contracts that may be granted to Indian companies.

"Only the naïve" would believe that helping the Anglo-American occupation of Iraq would get India a seat in the U.N. Security Council or influence their policies in South Asia. "Nations, particularly, those who are proud of their heritage do not safeguard their national interests this way. In reality, this is a litmus test of India's diplomacy."

"Both of us have no hesitation in urging the Government to explain the position in suitable terms to the U.S. We believe India's reputation would be damaged if troops were sent to prop up the occupation of Iraq .... automatic alignment a la Blair is not a conceivable option for India. Above all it will be unfair to our army to send them on a mission to risk their lives where no national interest is at stake," they said.

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