Karat's fresh threat to UPA

CUTTACK: The CPI(M) on Monday vowed to oppose Indo-US nuclear deal and military collaboration with the United States and any move to make New Delhi a strategic ally of Washington.

"The US wants India to be its junior partner and continue to blackmail it for the next 40 years. But we would not allow this and ensure that India does not become a strategic ally of the US", CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said addressing the open session of CPI(M) state conference.

Criticizing the Centre's economic policies, Karat said the nine per cent GDP growth achieved by India has nothing to do with majority of the people as bulk of the wealth is now concentrated only with a handful of people.

"Only five persons of the country now have combined net asset of Rs 4,12,000 crore while the poor have become poorer due to the pro-rich policies adopted by the Congress-led government", he said.

He said CPI(M) would oppose any decision of the Congress-led coalition that would harm the interest of the poor, workers, tribals, government employees and small traders.

Karat said the Left parties were providing crucial outside support to the UPA government but at the same time they were playing an important role in opposing the 'anti-poor' moves of the Centre.

"All the 61 MPs of the Left Front in Parliament will ensure that the central government does not take any decision that would jeopardize the integrity and sovereignty of the country", Karat said.