Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, May 14: In a strong message, the CPI-M on Thursday asked the US to stay away from Indian politics, saying that any American interference is “just not acceptable”.
The CPI-M concerns about the US playing a role in the formation of the next government in New Delhi stemmed from the meeting between US Charge d'Affaires (head of mission) A Peter Burleigh and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani yesterday.
Burleigh had also met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief Chiranjeevi.
The meeting with Naidu had triggered speculation among a section of the media that the US diplomat was trying to persuade Naidu not to back a Third Front government, in which the Left will have considerable influence.
Reacting strongly to the overtures being made by the US, CPI-M politburo member Sitraram Yechury said, “If the reports are true, then this is gross interference
in our internal affairs by the US. Its imperialist character
has once again revealed itself through its brazen interference
in the affairs of an independent country."
After all, there is no clear explanation why the US official would want to meet the TDP and PRP chiefs given that they are not in power.
Yechury said, "We have been told that the TDP strongly
condemned such suggestions (that the US wanted to influence its political decisions). He (Burleigh) was told, we are informed, with
quite degree of certainty and unceremoniously not to interfere
in India's internal affairs. That is the way it should be.”
"We strongly favour good friendly relations with the US
but will not brook any interference in our internal affairs,"
the CPI(M) leader said.
CPI National Secretary D Raja also said no interference
by any external power would be tolerated. "I must underline
that no external power should try to interfere in our
political affairs and no political party should give any
room to external powers to meddle in our affairs."
The BJP on its part has said that the meeting between the US official and Advani was routine and nothing more should be read into it.
But before today’s clarification from party spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad, senior party leader Venkaih Naidu has been quoted as saying that the Indo-US nuke deal was discussed with the acting US ambassador.
Interestingly, PRP chief Chiranjeevi while claiming that his meeting with Burleigh was just a courtesy call also said that the outcome of the elections in Andhra Pradesh was also discussed.
However, officially, the US Embassy has denied any reports of interfering in Indian politics saying they were routine courtesy calls to leaders of political parties.
With the Left fiercely opposed to the India-US nuclear deal and a larger strategic relationship between the two countries, there is concern in Washington about the Communists wielding influence in the next government.
The Left parties, which tried to topple the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government over the issue of the nuclear deal last year by withdrawing support, have said in their manifestos that if a government is formed with their support, they will review the deal and scrap the 2005 defence framework agreement.
Cong plays down US envoy's meet with Advani
Congress today downplayed the
meeting of US Charge d'Affaires Peter Burleigh with BJP's
Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani, saying the diplomat
himself has clarified about the meeting.
"The envoy (Burleigh) has himself spoken and given a very
specific clarification...But if a diplomat seeks to influence
voting pattern it is not correct..." party spokesman Abhishek
Singhvi said, adding that there is no point in speculating as
the envoy has himself clarified it.
First Published: Thursday, May 14, 2009, 15:15