WikiLeaks has exposed growing US interference in India: Prakash Karat

Noting that WikiLeaks has exposed the government's eagerness to be seen as an ally of the US, top CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat today said one will get a clear idea of growing American "interference" in the country after all diplomatic cables are made public.

The CPI(M) general secretary said what was now in public domain with regard to India was just a "tip of the iceberg" as only a few diplomatic cables from the US embassy in New Delhi were made public but they gave a glimpse into the relationship between the two countries.

He said it was shown in the cables that India was apologetic for giving a transit to Iran President Mehmood Ahmedinejad, how "desperate and anxious" were Americans on the nuclear deal and how they were coordinating the foreign policy in line with that of the US.

Speaking at a seminar on 'WikiLeaks, Radia Tapes and Paid News' organised by Delhi Union of Journalists, he said, "When the full range of cables come out, you will have a full idea of the coordination between US and India, including the US' growing interference and influence in our public domain."

More than what is revealed in the conversations, he said, the cables gave a picture of the "true nature and character" of the US. "Most were related to Middle-East. You find they were naked and blatant in seeking to advance its interest in the region in coordination with Israel," he said.

With regard to India, he said that the cables revealed that Indian officials did not want to admit in public that India's foreign policy was in sync with the US.

"We have a sense of satisfaction that we have a strategic relationship with the US but they do not want to publicly say that. Representatives of the government were anxious to see that there is a growing proximity to the US.

"The National Security Adviser makes a demand that we should be seen to be pursuing an independent foreign policy and ask the US not to make any demands publicly," Karat said.

He also claimed that New Delhi was at pains to explain about the stay of Ahmedinejad and was apologetic to the US saying he was on transit and India was not deepening its ties with Iran. "The whole range of relationship with Iran is being halted due to US pressure," he alleged.

On Julian Assange, Karat said US vice-president Joe Biden had noted that the WikiLeaks editor was a "high-tech terrorist".

"Now Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that he should be given Nobel Peace Prize. China has supported it. And if the Nobel Committee gives him the award, India will not attend the function though it has attended one during which a Chinese dissident was given award.

"India won't attend the function if Assange is awarded as the US has declared him a terrorist," he said in a lighter vein.

Karat said the expose also showed the nature of Indian governments.

CPI national secretary D Raha also echoed Karat's views saying the character of the government was exposed by Wikileaks and Radia Tapes.

He said the governments were succumbing to corporate pressure.

Veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha said the exposure of Radia Tapes was part of a giant revolution against the lack of accountability of the system.

"This revolt, revolution or upsurge is against a cosy, crony political system that has developed in the past few years," he said.