IndiaPost.com - CPI-M warns UPA against signing military pact with US

COIMBATORE: The CPI(M) has warned the UPA government against going ahead with any military collaboration agreement with the United States.

Addressing a huge rally on the concluding day of the six-day 19th party Congress here, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Congress-led UPA Government should not sign the agreement with the US and lose the stature of being a non-aligned nation.

Pointing out that the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had played a major role in the non-aligned movement, he said "Congress party should follow the path of its leaders and pursue such a policy."

Though Congress had promised to pursue such a policy, efforts were being made to enter into a strategic alliance with US, Karat said, adding "CPI-M would mobilize the people to undo the agreement" "Our opposition is not against the US as a country or its people.

But it is against the US government which is putting pressure on India on the military deal and economic policies that are detrimental to the people," Karat said. The CPI-M would make all-out efforts through a third alternative to prevent BJP from coming to power and would see that the party (BJP) is not able to form a government on its own and could not get allies to return to power, Karat said.

Speaking on the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal Project, Karat urged the Centre to complete it. The project would be beneficial for both Tamil Nadu and the country, he said. Accusing 'communal forces' of putting spokes on the implementation of the project in the name of Ram sethu, Karat said his party would continue to fight for the completion of the project.

Politburo member and senior party leader Sitaram Yechury in his address strongly condemned the BJP and communal forces for the recent attack on CPI-M offices and said the party would launch democratic protests against such acts so that these forces got more isolated.

He further warned of launching agitations if the UPA government deviated from the Common Minimum Programme. Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar spoke on the achievements of his state and winning the confidence and faith of the people through developmental policies.

Adressing the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the industrialisation in Singur and Nandigram was part of his government's aim to generate employment for the youth. "I am not bothered about a big car or a small car.

We want to provide jobs", he said, referring to the Tata car manufacturing unit in Singur. Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, Party Control Comission Chairman, N Shankaraiah and Tamil Nadu Secretary, N Varadarajan also addressed the meeting which was attended an estimated over one lakh people.