US trying to prevent parties from backing 3rd Front: Left

NEW DELHI: Despite the US embassy categorically denying any attempt to meddle in India���s internal affairs, the controversy over US charge d���affaires Peter Burleigh meeting senior political leaders is showing no sign of dissipating. On Thursday, the Left accused the US of interference, saying it was trying to prevent parties like the TDP from joining any coalition which features Left parties.

Burleigh has held meetings with several top leaders, who are expected to play a key role in government formation once the results are out on May 16 leading to speculations that Washington was trying to influence post-poll alliances.

He called on BJP���s PM candidate L K Advani on Wednesday and before that he had a meet with Venkaiah Naidu. Last week, he had met NCP leader Sharad Pawar, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) boss Chiranjeevi. ���If the reports are true, then this is gross interference in our internal affairs by the US. Its imperialist character has once again revealed itself through its brazen interference in the affairs of an independent country,��� CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said.

The US denial notwithstanding, there has been speculation that Burleigh, a South Asia expert fluent in Hindi and Bengali, asked the TDP���s Naidu not to join hands with Left in forming a Third Front government as it would prove to be an impediment for Indo-US ties.

���We have been told that the TDP strongly condemned such suggestions. He was told, we are informed, with quite degree of certainty and unceremoniously not to interfere in India���s internal affairs. That is the way it should be,��� Yechury said. The TDP issued a clarification on Thursday saying that Burleigh had made no such demand. It was just a courtesy call.