The ministry of defence has given the green signal for the USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers, to come to Chennai next month.
Left parties demand explanation from the UPA, while BJP accuses the Centre of following a pro-US policy
Seema Guha/Josy Joseph/Kay Benedict
NEW DELHI: It is official now. The ministry of defence has given the green signal for the USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers, fitted with sophisticated nuclear weapons to come to Chennai next month.
The government has tried to play down its significance, saying it is a routine matter and this is not the first time that a nuclear powered warship is calling at an Indian port. “Ships of various countries visit Indian ports. This (the Nimitz visit) is nothing new,” defence minister AK Anthony said on Monday.
The USS Nimitz’s visit is a part of India’s “policy of close defence cooperation with all countries”, he explained. The minister said soon Indian and Chinese militaries will be “staging a joint exercise”. The point the defence minister was trying to make was that no special consideration was being given to the US.
But the Left allies of the UPA were obviously not convinced. Politburo member Sitaram Yechury asked the government to explain why a nuclear warship was being allowed to enter Indian waters. Yechury said New Delhi’s principled position on the issue had been that of not extending facilities in the country to nuclear warships.
However, ever since India had leased a nuclear submarine from Russia in the late eighties, New Delhi’s earlier strict policy was naturally diffused. The lease has run out and at the moment India does not have any nuclear powered naval ships. Some countries like New Zealand strictly follow this rule of not allowing nuclear warships into its territorial waters. “We would like to know what compulsions the government had in taking such a decision. The government should explain it,” Yechury said.
The USS Nimitz had been sent to the Persian Gulf during the Bush administration’s nuclear stand-off with Iran recently. It was a show of strength in an effort to intimidate President Ahmedinejad into submission.
“I see this as a part of a pattern,” said BJP leader and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha. “Ever since the UPA government came to power, they have not just followed a pro-US, but a foreign policy subjugated to the US. This government accommodates every request made by the US administration. This is the latest in a series of concessions to the US, so I am not surprised at the USS Numitz coming in,” Sinha said.
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