India Cannot Be Part of US Strategic Plans

Date: 
Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

                                   India Cannot Be Part of US Strategic Plans

The announcement by the US and Indian governments about expanding the strategic partnership between the two countries in the realm of nuclear, space and high technology is not just what it is being touted to be. It is one more step taken by the Vajpayee government to make India part of the United States’ global strategic plans.

The commitment made by India to discuss cooperation with the American Missile Defence System is most objectionable. It may be recalled that the Vajpayee government was the first one to endorse President Bush’s strategic version of nuclear security and the Nuclear Missile Defence (NMD) system in May 2001. Even when other major countries of the world refused to subscribe to the new missile defence system, the Vajpayee government showed inordinate keenness to be part of the new ballistic missile defence system. Further, the joint announcement shows that American concerns regarding nuclear proliferation predominate while there are no concrete measures for India accessing high technology.

The BJP-led government has been set on the course of acquiescing in the US drive for global hegemony and new militarisation in turn for the US acceptance of India’s nuclear weapon status.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes this pro-US policy and demands that the Vajpayee government desist from making India party to the American strategic plans.