People's Democracy

No Troops For Iraq

LEADERS of various opposition parties and prominent personalities spoke out against the sending of Indian troops to Iraq which is under the consideration by the Vajpayee government. They were speaking at a public meeting organised by the Committee Against War on Iraq.

Presiding over a well attended meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Somnath Chatterjee, leader of the CPI(M) group in the Lok Sabha  said it is a matter of serious concern that the Vajpayee government is discussing with the US administration about sending troops to Iraq. This is contrary to the spirit of the resolution unanimously adopted in parliament in the last session which was moved by the speaker. Iraq is under military occupation of the US and British and what role can the Indian troops play in such a situation except to legitimise the occupiers, Chatterjee asked.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Prakash Karat, member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau stated that the United States has approached 15 countries to send troops. So far only those countries which are part of the NATO or close military allies  of the US have responded. Even they are sending only small contingents. That is why America wants India to send a full division of its army. If the Vajpayee government complies, this will be the third biggest contingent after the American and British forces. Karat charged the Vajpayee government with conducting secret diplomacy which has been going on for more than a month.  Preparations have already been made for a division of troops to be sent. The Americans have mounted pressure on deputy prime minister Advani during his visit to America. Sending Indian troops would mean helping the Americans to suppress the Iraqi people who are resisting the occupation. Right now America is conducting the military operation  Desert Scorpion to put down the resistance. The demand of the Indian people is that not a single Indian soldier should be sent to Iraq.

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, MP and senior leader of the RJD accused the Vajpayee government of acting as an agent of the United States and said that sending of Indian troops to Iraq will be an insult to the Indian armed forces and the country. D Raja, on behalf of the CPI debunked the idea that there can be a national consensus on the issue. He stated that the war on Iraq  was illegal and the occupation is against the wishes of the Iraqi people. India cannot be seen as siding with those who have destroyed the independence of Iraq.  Syed Shahabuddin, a member of the Committee stated that the war in Iraq is not over as the people are fighting the occupiers. The Indian troops will not be serving under a UN peacekeeping force. The term stabilization force is just euphemism for an occupying force. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Congress MP stated that though there is talk of national consensus, it is not realisable given the fact that there are many parties and people like him who do not agree that Indian troops should serve under a US occupation regime. He said sending troops in such a situation would be acting against the interests of the Iraqi people who have warm friendly feelings towards Indians.

Dipankar Bhattacharya of the CPI(ML), Devarajan of the Forward Bloc, Kunwar Danish Ali of JD(S) and Praful Bidwai, noted journalist also spoke emphasising the need to mobilise the people and take to the streets to agitate against the move to send troops to Iraq.

(INN)