The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has issued the following statement:
Make Stand on Iraq Clear
An official of the United States administration has stated that the US will continue to consult India on its preparations for war against Iraq. Richard Haass of the US state department has further said that the US would also ask India for cooperation for its military aggression on Iraq. He has justified this approach by stating that India is a natural partner and ally. The US official has also met the external affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha.
There has been no official disavowal of these remarks. The external affairs minister had earlier stated in parliament that India is for a peaceful resolution of the problem through the forum of the United Nations. In the absence of a categorical assertion that India is opposed to any military action against Iraq, there are sufficient grounds to believe that the Vajpayee government is tacitly adopting a posture of cooperation with the illegal and aggressive acts of the United States against Iraq.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the Vajpayee government come out with a clear statement opposing the preparations for war being made by the United States and Britain against Iraq.