M. Rajeev
HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is not in favour of withdrawing its support to the United Progressive Alliance Government over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement that the Government will go ahead with the 123 agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States.
“We have serious reservations over the agreement and we want a discussion in Parliament. Why should every disagreement lead to pulling down the Government?” CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury observed at a press conference here on Saturday.
He said the Constitution had made it clear that the executive reserved the right of entering into international agreements.
“The agreement will continue to be in place whether the Government remains or not,” he said.
Recalling the treaty signed with the World Trade Organisation by the Narasimha Rao Government, he said that despite the change in guard later, the agreement could not be changed. “We are demanding that the Government incorporate some changes in the interest of the country,” he said.
Mr. Yechury made light of reports that Dr. Singh told Left leaders that he would resign if they opposed the 123 agreement.
The nuclear issue dealt with policy and not personality and the Prime Minister’s view was not in consonance with those of the CPI(M).
He made it clear that the Left would continue to mount pressure on the Government as there were some more steps before the agreement was put in place.
Explaining the “harmful impact” of 123, he said the termination of the agreement would be guided by the “supremacy of the U.S. national law.” Moreover, it was not in isolation and was coming with a package according to which India would be expected to frame foreign policy that would be in “congruence” with U.S. interests.
The agreement was aimed at boosting the American armament industry that was eyeing $80 billion worth of orders for nuclear reactors.
The CPI(M) would take out jathas from Chennai and Kolkata, coinciding with the proposed joint military exercises involving India, the U.S., Singapore, Australia and Japan in the Bay of Bengal.
