Tell US envoy we won't take imperialist arrogance: CPM
Dissatisfied with the Manmohan Singh government’s terse statement to the US on its Iran comments, the CPM on Wednesday demanded that the American envoy in India be summoned for conveying New Delhi’s disapproval of US ‘interference’ in the country’...
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: When it comes to snubbing the US, the Left wants the government to go the whole hog. Dissatisfied with the Manmohan Singh government���s terse statement to the US on its Iran comments, the CPM on Wednesday demanded that the American envoy in India be summoned for conveying New Delhi���s disapproval of US ���interference��� in the country���s foreign policy.
The party also asked the government to expedite the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project to send the message that India will not bow to the US pressure.
The CPM���s demand came even as external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee asked the US not to take the responsibility of deciding if Iran was manufacturing nuclear weapons. Mr Mukherjee, who made the comments in an interaction with reporters, said New Delhi was advising Iran that since it is a signatory to NPT, it has some obligation to international treaties.
The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament by the CPM, which accused the US state department of indulging in another act of gross interference in India���s relations with other countries. US state department deputy spokesman Tom Casey had said that the Bush administration hoped that India will counsel Iranian president Ahmednijad during his stopover to comply with UNSC requirements on its nuclear programme.
Though CPM appreciated MEA���s response that India did not require advice, it said this was not enough. ���The government���s response is good but we want the matter to be taken up more seriously. The government should summon the US ambassador and convey that India does not appreciate such imperialist arrogance and does not need advice on how it should conduct foreign policy,��� polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said at a press conference.
He said the US statement vindicated the Left���s apprehensions that the Indo-US nuclear deal would mount pressure from the US to move in line with the US strategic interests. ���The UPA should take cognisance of this reality and ensure that India will pursue an independent foreign policy,��� he said. Recalling that India had maintained friendly ties with Iran, Mr Yechury said the government should speed up the gas pipeline project with Iran and dispel any doubt that the delay was because of US pressure.
In Rajya Sabha, Ms Brinda Karat said it was necessary to summon the US envoy to convey India���s ���strong displeasure��� as the government had ���unfortunately blemished��� India���s record by voting twice against Iran in IAEA.
The party also asked the government to expedite the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project to send the message that India will not bow to the US pressure.
The CPM���s demand came even as external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee asked the US not to take the responsibility of deciding if Iran was manufacturing nuclear weapons. Mr Mukherjee, who made the comments in an interaction with reporters, said New Delhi was advising Iran that since it is a signatory to NPT, it has some obligation to international treaties.
The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament by the CPM, which accused the US state department of indulging in another act of gross interference in India���s relations with other countries. US state department deputy spokesman Tom Casey had said that the Bush administration hoped that India will counsel Iranian president Ahmednijad during his stopover to comply with UNSC requirements on its nuclear programme.
Though CPM appreciated MEA���s response that India did not require advice, it said this was not enough. ���The government���s response is good but we want the matter to be taken up more seriously. The government should summon the US ambassador and convey that India does not appreciate such imperialist arrogance and does not need advice on how it should conduct foreign policy,��� polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury said at a press conference.
He said the US statement vindicated the Left���s apprehensions that the Indo-US nuclear deal would mount pressure from the US to move in line with the US strategic interests. ���The UPA should take cognisance of this reality and ensure that India will pursue an independent foreign policy,��� he said. Recalling that India had maintained friendly ties with Iran, Mr Yechury said the government should speed up the gas pipeline project with Iran and dispel any doubt that the delay was because of US pressure.
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In Rajya Sabha, Ms Brinda Karat said it was necessary to summon the US envoy to convey India���s ���strong displeasure��� as the government had ���unfortunately blemished��� India���s record by voting twice against Iran in IAEA.
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