Mulford must be recalled: Karat

The US envoy has been criticising the Left parties for their objection to FDI in retail trade and the opening up of the banking and insurance sectors.

US ambassador David Mulford should be recalled for undiplomatic conduct, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat demanded on Friday.

HT Image

"After what he has said about the Left parties he should be recalled. We expect a response from the government," said a visibly angry Karat, for the CPI-M politburo meeting.

The American envoy has been criticising the Left parties for their objection to foreign direct investment in retail trade and the opening up of the banking and insurance sectors.

Now, he has purportedly written to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya objecting to the latter's description of President George W Bush as "the most organised pack of killers".

Stating that he had just learnt about the controversy surrounding the letter to Bhattacharya, Karat said: "The US ambassador does not seem to understand how to behave as an ambassador. The ambassador has no business to write directly to our chief minister whatever may be the content."

Lashing out at Mulford, he added: "If he were an American politician coming to India and commenting, it would have been okay. But the ambassador has to follow certain norms."