US armtwisting India on Dow: Opposition

NEW DELHI: US’ pressure on India to take the heat off Dow Chemicals over Bhopal rocked Parliament on Thursday with the Opposition asking the government to give an assurance that it will not make any concessions to the American company. BJP and the Left, which sought suspension of question hour, alleged that the US was trying to armtwist India to let Dow Chemicals off the hook.

They demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement that the Indian government would not be “influenced” by US deputy national security advisor Michael Froman’s communication.

When the Lok Sabha met, leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said it reflected the “step-motherly ” treatment being meted out by the Centre to BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. “I ask all MPs from the state to walk out in protest and hold a sitin outside,” she said.

In the Upper House, CPI national secretary D Raja demanded an explanation from the government. “How can the US pressure our own government? It is for the Government of India to come clean and say forthrightly that it will not succumb to any pressure by US,” he stated. “This shows how India is under US pressure.

US companies are being protected. Whatever the PM does in relation to US, whether commerce or strategic ties, it is all on a basis of an unequal relationship. The email may appear trivial but its a revealing document,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said. CPI leader A B Bardhan said: “It is not at all surprising. It reflects the intentions.”