[Marxism] Indian Left parties' statement on US-India Nuke Deal

[Sayan Bhattacharyya]

August 7, 2007

Left Parties Statement

On the Indo-US Bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement

The Left parties have consistently held that the nuclear cooperation
agreement should not be seen in isolation from the overall strategic tie up
with the United States. The nuclear cooperation deal is an integral part of
the July 2005 joint statement, which has political, economic and strategic
aspects. It is also closely linked to the June 2005 military framework
agreement signed with the United States.

[...]

The Left parties had earlier cautioned the government not to accept nuclear
cooperation with United States on terms that compromises its independent
foreign policy and its sovereign rights for developing a self-reliant
nuclear programme. It had asked the UPA government to desist from proceeding
with the negotiations for the 123 agreement till the inimical provisions of
the Hyde Act are cleared out of the way.

The Left parties, after a careful assessment of the text of the 123
agreement and studying it in the context of the burgeoning strategic
alliance with the United States, are unable to accept the agreement. The
Left calls upon the government not to proceed further with the
operationalising of the agreement. There has to be a review of the strategic
aspects of Indo-US relations in parliament. The Left parties will press for
a Constitutional amendment for bringing international treaties and certain
bilateral agreements for approval in parliament.


(Prakash Karat)
(A.B. Bardhan)

Communist Party of India (Marxist)                    Communist Party of India


(Devarajan)
(Abani Roy)

All India Forward Bloc
Revolutionary Socialist Party