Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
On Vajpayee Government’s Stand on US Moves
The CPI(M) reiterates its strong condemnation of the barbaric terrorist attacks in the United States which have led to a devastating loss of lives. It shares the worldwide sympathy with the families of all the victims.
However, in response to this outrageous attack, the Bush administration has made a declaration of war. It has threatened to use its military power to retaliate against unspecified countries. The United States, by this pronouncement, has arrogated to itself the right to trample upon the United Nations charter and violate the sovereignty of any country. It is incumbent upon the United States administration to investigate the crime and to identify its perpetrators. After doing so, the United States can act lawfully to get the cooperation of other countries and international organisations to apprehend the guilty. Instead of doing so, any unilateral military action can only lead to loss of many innocent lives and the vicious cycle of violence and the aggravation of international tensions.
Without considering all these aspects, the BJP-led government has behaved in an utterly irresponsible and craven manner. In keeping with its policy of winning US approval and acting as its junior partner, the Vajpayee government had immediately announced after the September 11 attacks that it is willing to cooperate with the United States in all ways if it decides to launch any military action.
The BJP-led government has already informed the United States that it is willing to offer logistical support in India and its military and infrastructural resources for the proposed US military action against Afghanistan.
In 1991, for the first time, the Indian government had offered refueling facilities to American war planes for their attack on Iraq. Such an event cannot be allowed to be repeated on a larger scale.
The CPI(M) and all the democratic forces in India know the nature of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and its sponsorship of fundamentalism and terrorist activities. However, it must be remembered that it was the United States which financed and equipped the Islamic fundamentalist forces who were fighting in Afghanistan against the Soviet forces and the Najibullah government. Osama bin Laden was a beneficiary and an operative of the CIA-ISI joint project.
There are also other disturbing statements emanating from the BJP-led government. Repeatedly the Home Minister and others are advocating a strategic alliance with both the United States and Israel. It is well known that Israel is the trusted ally and agent of the United States in the Middle East which emboldens it to continue with its aggression against the Palestinian people and the Arab countries. What the BJP-led government proposes, will have serious implications for India’s security interests.
The Indian government can respond to any lawful request of the United States to provide any relevant information it has regarding terrorist activities which may have a bearing on the terroristic actions in the United States. But to involve India in any US military action is unacceptable and will be strongly opposed by all patriotic Indians.