'A Flagrant Violation'

Thestatement issued by the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)met in New Delhi On June 29, 2008. It has issued the following statement:

OnNuclear Deal

ThePolit Bureau heard a report on the current impasse arising out of the PrimeMinister and the Congress leadership’s insistence on going ahead with theIndo-US nuclear deal.

ThePolit Bureau wishes to point out that going to the Board of Governors of theIAEA for approval of the Safeguards Agreement will be a flagrant violation ofthe understanding arrived at in the November 16, 2007 meeting of the UPA-LeftCommittee on the nuclear deal. The UPA had pledged not to proceed till theCommittee arrives at its findings, which includes the conclusions to be arrivedat on the text of the Safeguards Agreement.

ThePolit Bureau wishes to point out that the UPA was formed to keep the communalforces at bay. By taking such a step and the political consequences thereafter,that purpose will be undermined. We appeal to the partners of the Congress inthe UPA to ensure that no such steps are taken which will help the communalforces.

ThePolit Bureau reiterates its firm opposition to the 123 Agreement which does notprovide for full civilian nuclear cooperation; does not meet the needs of energysecurity and which will severely undermine the country’s independent foreignpolicy and strategic autonomy by cementing a strategic alliance with the UnitedStates.

Incase the government decides to go ahead with such a harmful agreement, which hasno majority support in parliament, the CPI(M) will withdraw support to the UPAgovernment in  concert with the Left parties.

Inflationand Price Rise

ThePolit Bureau expressed grave concern at the galloping inflation rate which hastouched 11.42 per cent. The Manmohan Singh government has abjectly failed totackle inflation. The price rise of essential commodities imposes a crushingburden on the people. The poor are finding it difficult to survive given therising cost of food stuffs.

Itis unfortunate that at a time when the government should be gearing up to take comprehensive steps to tackle inflation and price rise, the Prime Minister andthe Congress leadership are more concerned about fulfilling their commitmentmade to President Bush to operationalise the nuclear deal.

ThePolit Bureau notes that wedded to neo-liberal policies, the Congress-ledgovernment callously refuses to take the urgent steps necessary to curb pricerise and provide relief to the people.

TheCPI(M) will, after consultations with the Left parties launch an intensivecampaign unitedly to expose the Congress-led government’s surrender ofnational interests on the nuclear deal and its failure to curb price rise.