The Bengal unit of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is in a 'wait and watch mode' over the overtures made by the United States of America to the Indian government in dealing with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) before it hits the streets on the issue.
A joint statement issued by India and US has “reaffirmed” the concern over the “continued threat posed by terrorism, most recently highlighted by the dangers presented by the ISIL,” and underscored “the need for continued comprehensive global efforts to combat and defeat terrorism”.
While the Joint Secretary (Americas) in the MEA has convened a press conference to suggest that India is not going to join “any coalition” against the IS, the Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Surya Kanta Mishra, also a member of the CPI(M) Politbureau, has told The Hindu that “any shift” from the foreign policy of non-alignment will be opposed by the party.
“In the name of fighting ISIL or the terror groups, what the US is trying to do is to occupy the territory of Syria,” Dr Mishra said, adding that the party will approach the people depending on how the issue pans out in the next few months.
The Politbureau on Tuesday had issued a statement urging the Government of India not to join the “unilateral US initiative” against terror outfits. The party organ in Bengal, ‘Ganashakti’ has toed a similar line on Wednesday.
“The Government of India must, under no circumstances, fall prey to these machinations. It must never join any unilateral US initiative of this sort, no matter how strongly such an initiative is portrayed as defending “humanity” against “the forces of barbarism,” the statement said.
Many senior CPI(M) leaders said a closer look at the joint statement made by India and the US “provides a basis to their apprehension.”
“Now that we have flagged up that issue, we would like to see how it emerges in the coming week, before we take it to the people,” CPI (M) Central Committee member Nilotpal Basu said.Another CPI (M) leader Mohd. Salim said while the CPI (M) is opposed to ISIL and believes that its activities are dangerous, it is the “erroneous policies of the US that has led to mushrooming of such terror groups.”
The development is significant for politics in Bengal where many are still swayed by ‘anti-imperialist’ protests.