The five left parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist (Liberation), All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party – have issued the following joint statement:
We strongly condemn the dastardly attack carried out by the US navy on commercial ships with Indian seafarers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. Three Indian seafarers were killed in this attack. This is the third such attack carried on ships with Indian crew. The US government is threatening to continue with its attacks on any ship that violates its blockade.
The actions of the US administration are against the UN Charter and the principles of free navigation in international waters. The US is acting like a gangster trying to impose its hegemony over the entire world. This cannot be tolerated. The BJP-led Union Government is abjectly failing in its duty by reneging on the independent foreign policy and becoming a junior partner to the US. The meek response of the government and its failure to force an apology from the US is the latest example. This is an affront to India’s sovereignty and self-respect.
The US attack on Iran and West Asia have severely impacted the global economy with the rising energy costs, scarcity of fertilisers and other essential commodities. As an important country of the Global South, India should condemn US imperialist aggression. It should lead the voices of the Global South in standing against the US.
We demand the Union Government to ensure proper compensation to the families of the seafarers who have been killed. We call upon the people of our country to protest against the US aggression and condemn the killing of Indian seafarers. All our units across the country will organise protest demonstrations against the US and also demand the Indian government to pursue all diplomatic means to punish those responsible for these deaths.
MA Baby D Raja Dipankar Bhattacharya
General Secretary General Secretary General Secretary
CPI(M) CPI CPI(ML)-Liberation
G Devarajan Manoj Bhattacharya
General Secretary General Secretary
AIFB RSP