New Delhi: Asking UPA government not to succumb to "pressure" to accept President Barack Obama's economic and strategic alliance proposals, the Left parties today claimed that these would only benefit the US and go against India's interest.
"We don't have any opposition to his (Obama's) visit but his visit should not mean that our government, coming under the pressure of America, enters into agreements (with US) which goes against Indian sovereignty, economic interest, interest of farmers and labourers," CPI (M) general secretary
Prakash Karat said.
The Left leader underlined that America was facing economic crisis and unemployment. "But more unemployment can not be created in India to reduce unemployment in America," he said addressing a demonstration by Left parties here to protest various economic and strategic proposals made by US president to India during his maiden visit.
Karat said that since the visit of erstwhile US president Bill Clinton in 2000, the US has succeeded in "bringing India into a coalition" and warned the government that "people of this country have not given you mandate to
become a military ally of America".
".... Only America will completely be benefited by this coalition. It is not in the interest of the people of our country," Karat said.
Karat said that Left parties are today staging demonstration all over the country against the US proposals to India as it wanted Obama to "listen" not only the government but also the "voice of the people of the country".
"We are not only staging demonstration against American imperialism. We have a question facing us that how much this Manmohan Singh government is going to compromise and surrender before the American pressure," he said.
The CPI (M) leader alleged that US was putting pressure on India to facilitate entry of American MNCs in retail and agriculture sectors and claiming that if it
materialises, it will be an "attack" on lakhs of small shopkeepers and businessmen of the country.
America also wants to make India its military ally and is pressuring the UPA government to sign a defence logistic agreement with it, he charged.
"We want to caution our government. We know that government is moving forward to allow American MNCs in retail sector...Likewise, pressure is being mounted by America to secure entry of American MNC in our agriculture sector. It should not be done," Karat said.
"One of the American demands is signing of logistical support agreement. America wants that its air force and navy use our airports and other facilities. They are pressurising. We want to warn Congress-led UPA government (that) you are still not in majority in Parliament and people of this country have not given you mandate to become a military ally of America," Karat said.
Karat said that Pakistan is an "ally" of the US which has given it status of non-NATO ally, alleging that "there is a pressure on us too to become a non-NATO ally of America like Pakistan."
America, by making India its non-NATO ally, wants permission to use Indian military in fighting their war in the region, the CPI(M) leader alleged.
"What would it (becoming a non-NATO ally of America) mean. When American army attacks Afghanistan, or decides to attack Iran in future, then our military will go there to fight. This permission they want," Karat charged.
"The government should not take any such step which goes against the interest of our country," he demanded.
The CPI(M) leader also raised the issue of Bhopal gas tragedy and demanded that government should put pressure on Obama for handing over former chairman of Union Carbide Warren Anderson to it and prosecute him in the case here.
Addressing the protesters, senior CPI leader A B Bardhan said, "Obama only wants that after returning from here he should be able to say to his people that he came with numerous jobs from India".
He alleged that the US was trying to dominate India in every sector and "because of all this, India will only become a slave of America, just a subordinate ally of America".
Bardhan wondered why India needs US support when "India has been growing on its own, not because of America". He also criticised the US proposal to India on signing of defence logistic support agreement and alleged that America wants to bring its troops here just as "it has done in
over 150 countries".
Accusing the US of following an "imperialist policy", Bardhan said, "If their army is deployed here, we will deliberately be bearing a new and powerful American imperialism on our chest. This is a big question facing us.
Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh should give an answer to this."
He said that US was also trying to dominate India's education sector and lashed our HRD Minister Kabil Sibal.
"They want to dominate our education system also. And what a weird government and HRD Minister we have. HRD Minister is ready to give them (Americans) a red carpet welcome. He wants to bring in foreign universities despite that fact that we have several outstanding universities in our country...," Bardhan charged.
To a question whether Left parties would boycott Obama's speech in Parliament, senior CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yetury said, "we are going to listen to him in Parliament like we want him to listen to us. What we have said now, he (Obama) should also keep in mind."
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