The Defence ministry’s pact with the Pentagon on INS Jalashva is likely to trigger a political furore with both the Left parties and the BJP keen to take the government to task.
CPI(M) has also demanded an inquiry
NEW DELHI: The Defence ministry’s pact with the Pentagon on INS Jalashva is likely to trigger a political furore with both the Left parties and the BJP keen to take the government to task over the signing of “restrictive clauses” assuring the US that it would not deploy the warship for “offensive” purposes and allow the Americans to inspect the ship.
Both parties have said such pacts have grave implications for the nation’s security and sovereignty.
As reported by the DNA, the government signed the controversial End Use Verification Agreement with the Pentagon that permits US officials to inspect the Rs202 crore INS Jalashva, the second largest ship with the navy, at Indian bases.
Terming the government’s decision as “abject surrender” to the US, Left leaders said they plan to raise the issue in Parliament demanding an explanation from the government. BJP sources too want to bring up the issue in order to put the government on the mat.
The Comptrolller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report tabled in Parliament on Friday had indicted the government on the purchase of the US naval ship (earlier the USS Trenton).
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said,” It is a matter of deep concern.” He said the deal would adversely impact on naval and defence capability.
The CPI(M) has demanded an inquiry into the deal and a statement in Parliament. “It should assure the country that such dubious defence purchases will not be resorted to in the future.” It said the “country would like to know whether there has been pressure from the Bush administration to buy US arms and defence equipment?”
According to CPI national secretary and RS member D. Raja, “The deepening military cooperation with the US has adverse implications on our sovereignty and independent foreign policy. We cannot succumb to such diktats.
We will raise it in Parliament. Government is answerable to Parliament and the country.”
He said the defence budget has been increasing every year as also the controversies surrounding defence deals.
Describing the signing of the end use verification agreement “shameful”, Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas, said, “It was naked surrender to before American imperialism”. He said the “dubious” deal vindicated Left stand against strategic alliance with the US. Biswas said his party would raise the issue in Parliament.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}