Press statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Stop US Access to Sensitive Military Bases
The announcement by a senior army officer Lt. Gen. T.S. Shergill that the Indian government is considering giving US access to the jungle warfare training college in Mizoram is bound to cause serious concern. The US armed forces would be given access to a sensitive military installation in the north-eastern region bordering China and Myanmar. This revelation follows the recent remarks of the Defence Minister Jaswant Singh in Australia about US access to Indian military bases not being ruled out in the future.
During Jaswant Singh’s recent visit to the United States, there were sufficient hints that India is willing to consider American requests for access to Indian military installations connected with high altitude training and jungle warfare under the military exchange programme. The forthcoming visit of the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to finalise the details.
The Vajpayee government is step by step entangling India into a strategic and subordinate relationship with the United States. Sometime back, the FBI was allowed to open an office in Delhi.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes any move to provide the US access to sensitive military installations under the military exchange programme. The Polit Bureau demands that the Vajpayee government provide a full and open account of the nature of military cooperation being put in place with the United States. The Polit Bureau appeals to all political parties and democratic sections to demand a reversal of this harmful policy being adopted by the BJP-led government.