CPI urges Govt to deny troops for Iraq

Communist Party of India asked Govt not to send troops to Iraq unless there was truly elected government in the war-ravaged country.

"The party has urged upon the UPA Government to declare categorically that Indian troops will not be sent to Iraq till the occupation forces are there and till a truly elected Government comes to power in Iraq," CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told reporters here.

HT Image

He said the party was concerned over the frequent statements with regard to policy matter, which lead to "misunderstandings and confusion", and therefore have to be clarified each time.

The "so-called change" in Iraq as mentioned by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh was a case in point," he said.

Lamenting that the transfer of powers was to a "puppet" Government in Iraq on June 30, Bardhan said June 30 would be observed as solidarity day as it was the day of "so-called" restoration of sovereignity in that country.

He said the foreign policies are to be carried forward as laid out in Common Minimum Programme.

Referring to former External Affair Minister Yashwant Sinha's attack on Singh, Bardhan said the NDA Government had "ganged" up with the US while framing the foreign policies.