Indian Communists Stand Firm on U.S. Nuclear Deal

Leaders of India’s largest communist party today gave no indication that they are prepared to budge from their opposition to the pending U.S.-Indian civilian nuclear trade agreement, Reuters reported today, (see GSN, Sept. 24).

The communists have maintained that the agreement would undermine Indian sovereignty and foreign policy independence, and they have vowed to withdraw support from the Singh administration if it pushes forward with the deal (see GSN, Sept 13).

If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh loses the communists’ support, he could be forced to call early elections next year before his term expires.

Leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) plotted their political strategy over the weekend in India’s eastern city of Kolkata.  They are expected to announce a new party resolution today.

“We have decided not to compromise on the nuclear deal, but will wait and see if the Congress (party) can get concessions on the deal before taking the final call,” said Jyoti Basu, a senior leader in the party.

A panel formed to address communist objections to the deal is scheduled to meet again in October.

“Let us see what comes out of it before we talk on the lines of withdrawing support,” Basu said (Reuters, Oct. 1).

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