On the Hyderabad bomb blasts

[Statement issued by the politbureau of the CPI(M)]

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its strong condemnation and outrage at the two bomb blasts in Hyderabad city on 25th August evening. This terrorist attack has led to the deaths of forty two people so far and scores have been injured.

This horrific attack underlines how certain terrorist groups are working to disrupt normal life and communal harmony. The culprits responsible for this outrage must be caught and brought to book. Since Hyderabad had witnessed a bomb attack in a mosque recently, it is important that the government and the security agencies identify and take preemptive steps to suppress such elements.

The Polit Bureau expresses its heartfelt sympathy for all those who have lost their family members and those who have suffered injuries. The Polit Bureau is confident that the people of Hyderabad, along with the rest of the country, will stand united against such nefarious and inhuman violence.

Central Committee resolution on the nuclear deal

[The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on  August 22 and 23, 2007 to consider the political situation arising out of the UPA government's decision to conclude the bilateral agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States.  The Central Committee has adopted the  following resolution unanimously ]

Resolution

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) fully endorsed the stand taken by the Polit Bureau that the bilateral agreement negotiated with the United States administration will bind India into a strategic alliance with the United States with long term consequences.

The Central Committee also considers the nuclear deal, as it exists, subject to the provisions of the Hyde Act which are binding on the US administration.

The Central Committee noted the various objections and apprehensions voiced by scientists, public figures and intelligentsia on the nuclear deal.  Above all, it is a fact that the majority of the members of Parliament are opposed to the agreement.

This alone should make the government pause  and not proceed further with the next steps to be taken to operationalise the deal.  It is incumbent on the government, which commands a majority in Parliament only with the support of the Left parties, to heed the voices of opposition.  It should examine the objections and clear the implications of the Hyde Act.

The Central Committee does not want the current crisis to affect the government. However, this is contingent upon the government not proceeding further with the agreement.  The Central Committee, therefore, authorises the Polit Bureau to take whatever necessary measures to see that the agreement is not operationalised.

The Central Committee decided to take the issue of the Indo-US strategic relations, of which the nuclear agreement is a part, to the people through a mass campaign alongwith the Left parties.  The way the tie-up with the United States is affecting the various policies  which affect the people's livelihood, economic sovereignty and independent foreign policy will be highlighted in this campaign.

The CPI(M) and the Left parties will conduct this joint campaign from September 4 to 8 all over the country coinciding with the two jathas which are taking place in the same period against the joint naval exercises.

Further, the Central Committee decided that the Party must conduct its own independent campaign till the 15th of September.

Left parties reiterate opposition to the nuclear deal

[Press statement jointly issued by Prakash Karat, A.B. Bardhan, Debabrata Biswas and Abani Roy]

The leaders of the Left parties met on August 20, 2007 at New Delhi. They  discussed the political situation prevailing since the Indo-US bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement.  They have issued the following statement:

1. The Left parties reiterate their stand taken on August 7, 2007 that in view of the widespread opposition to the agreement and the fact that a majority in Parliament is against it, the government should not proceed further with the agreement.
2. The Left parties wish to state that this would require not taking the next step of negotiations for the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
3. The Left  parties can understand the setting up of a committee or any other mechanism which can go into the objections regarding the agreement and evaluating the implications of the Hyde Act for the nuclear cooperation deal. But this can follow only when the next step at the IAEA is not taken.
4. The Left parties appeal to all the parties in the UPA to see the reasonableness of the stand taken which is fully in the spirit of our parliamentary democracy and the government's commitment to the country's welfare.  The Left parties await the response of the Congress leadership and the UPA to their proposal.

Prakash Karat on BJP's President's Charge against the Left

[Statement issued by Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI(M)]

The BJP President, Shri Rajnath Singh, has charged the Left parties with not being serious about their opposition to the nuclear deal. He has cited the unwillingness of the Left to join hands with the BJP on the issue to substantiate this charge.

The Left parties opposition to the nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States has been clearly spelt out from the outset in 2005. We do not share the views of the BJP on the matter, since their approach has been to bargain with the United States for a favourable nuclear adjustment while accepting the status of a subordinate ally of the US.

The six-year record of the BJP-led government was infamous for its kowtowing to the US. The Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbot secret talks, the visit of L.K. Advani to the CIA headquarters and the eagerness of the NDA government to become a "natural ally" of the US to the extent of considering sending Indian troops to Iraq, will not be forgotten by the Indian people.

The CPI(M) is certain not to have any truck with such a pro-imperialist party.

Polit Bureau Resolution on Nuclear Deal

[The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on August 17 and 18, 2007. It unanimously adopted the following resolution.]

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) fully endorsed the stand taken by the Left parties on the bilateral agreement on nuclear cooperation with the United States. The statement of the Left parties has set out comprehensively the reasons why the agreement is not acceptable.

The agreement should be seen in the light of the Hyde Act passed by the US Congress and in the context of the wider implications of India being bound into a strategic alliance with the United States and its adverse consequences for an independent foreign policy, sovereignty and the economic interests of  the people. The Polit Bureau is of the firm opinion that going ahead with this agreement will not serve India's interests.

Given the widespread opposition to the agreement and the fact that a majority in parliament do not support the nuclear cooperation deal, the government should not proceed further with the agreement.

Till all the objections are considered and the implications of the Hyde Act evaluated, the government should not take the next step with regard to negotiating a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It is for the Congress leadership to decide on the matter which will have serious consequences for the Government and the country.

The Polit Bureau decided to take the issue of the nuclear agreement and the dangers of the strategic alliance with the United States to the people through a nationwide mass campaign.

The Left parties will be meeting soon to discuss all other related matters.

On PM's Statement in Parliament on Indo-US Nuclear Agreement

[Press statement issued by the politbureau of the CPI(M)]

The Prime Minister's statement in Parliament does not shed any new light on the India US Nuclear Agreement that calls for a re-assessment on our part. He has reiterated his position on the agreement and has not addressed the issues that we have raised.

One of the more important issues raised by the Left right from the beginning is the link that the agreement has had on India's foreign policy. Here, the issue is not what the Prime Minister is saying but what his Government is doing. The Defence Framework Agreement of 2005, the Logistics Support Agreement being negotiated currently, joint naval exercises being planned  and the stand on the Iran nuclear issue are there before us. Therefore, it is difficult to agree with the Prime Minister that this agreement has no impact on our independent foreign policy, especially when the US officials are busy selling the agreement to the US Congress on the strategic value of India aligning with the US as a consequence of the agreement.

Apart from the foreign policy, on other matters also the Prime Minister's statement does not address the issues we have raised. Some of these are given below:

1. The Prime Minister, for instance, has said that the annual certification does not find a place in the 123 Agreement, appearing to imply that therefore this clause of the Hyde Act is not being implemented. A simple reading of Constitutional practice of the US would clarify that this Annual Certification is an obligation of the US President, which he is bound to fulfil. That it does not find a place in the 123 Agreement is not relevant. The issue that we have raised is if a "good conduct certificate" is not forthcoming or if the US Congress does not accept the good conduct certificate given (on issues ranging from Iran to anything that may come up in the future) what would be the implications for the 123 Agreement. In our understanding, the US could terminate the Agreement with all its consequences for our civilian nuclear energy program.
2. The Left Parties statement has explained in detail, why we do not think that life term security for nuclear fuel has been achieved in this Agreement. What we have are assurances while the Hyde Act contains the provisions, which would cut in if the US terminates the Agreement. Under the Hyde Act, if this agreement is terminated, the US would not help India tide over the "disruption" but would be obligated to work with the NSG countries to stop all supplies. This is also the reason that Clause 2.1 makes clear that each party will operate this Agreement in accordance with its the domestic laws, meaning obviously the US and the Hyde Act.
3. On the issue of full access to technology for the fuel cycle, which the Prime Minister had assured the Parliament earlier, it is now clear that this will not be available to India. The Prime Minister has essentially confirmed this; the only concession finally secured is "forward-looking language".
4. The Prime Minister has also emphasised the gains made with regard to the right to reprocess spent US fuel. However, this is only a notional right at present and subject to conditions that may emerge in the future.
5. The Prime Minister's statement also talks about his belief that the NSG would give unrestricted right to nuclear fuel and technology "the Nuclear Suppliers Group has to agree, by consensus, to adapt its guidelines, we expect without conditions, to enable nuclear commerce with India and to dismantle the restrictions on the transfer of dual use technologies and items to our country". This is the same belief he had expressed in Parliament when he had stated that the US would give full access to civilian nuclear technology, an expectation, which he has now conceded has been belied. We see no basis for his continued optimism in this regard, particularly as the NSG functions on the basis of consensus and the US is supposed to steer the change of Guidelines on our behalf.

The CPI(M) reiterates its stand that the government should not proceed with operationalising the bilateral agreement.

Fwd: [Marxistindia] Statement of Prakash Karat on PM's statement

[Press statement issued by Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI(M)]

The Left parties have been consistently expressing their opposition to the July 2005 joint statement with the United States, which includes the nuclear cooperation agreement.  After the Hyde Act was adopted by the United States containing unacceptable conditions, the CPI(M) has been  asking the government not to proceed with the negotiations for the bilateral (123) agreement.  We do not share the optimism that India can become "a great power with the help of the United States".  India is a country endowed with sufficient resources and self-confidence to carve out its own path of development.

The Prime Minister and the government must realise that  this agreement is not acceptable  to the majority in Parliament.

As far as the approach to the government is concerned, we will take our own counsel.

Attack on Taslima Nasreen

[Press statement issued by the politbureau of the CPI(M)]

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the physical attack on Taslima Nasreen, a Bangladeshi writer. This attack goes against the democratic and secular character of the Indian polity.

One may have differences over the writings of Taslima Nasreen or anybody else, but this definitely is not the appropriate manner to express dissent. This very act militates against the freedom of expression.