People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)


Vol. XXVIII

No. 13

March 28, 2004

CPI(M) Objects To Signing of MoU for AJT Deal

 

THE CPI(M) has objected to the Vajpayee government’s decision to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Britain on purchase of 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers for the Indian Air Force. Without going into the merits of the deal or the jets, the CPI(M) has questioned as to how a caretaker government can sign this deal. The circumstances under which the MoU was signed, particularly with elections imminent, will always raise suspicions of kickbacks being received, stated the Party.

 

Addressing a news conference on Saturday, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Prakash Karat, along with the CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha, Nilotpal Basu, stated that this job should have been left to the incoming government. Karat said given the past record involving such deals, doubts of kickbacks are bound to arise. He said the Party is considering to take this matter to the Election Commission "This is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the ruling party as it could have easily waited for three more months till the new government is formed as there could be no loss to the IAF or national security,"  Karat said.

 

India and Britain had signed a MoU on March 19 for effective and uninterrupted implementation of contracts for the acquisition of 66 Hawk Advanced jet Trainers (AJTs) for the Indian Air Force. The MoU was a prelude to the 796 million Pounds deal.

 

Referring to Pakistan being granted the status of important non-NATO ally, Karat said that was reward to it by the US for being a loyal military strategic partner. Pakistan had allowed He asked the Vajpayee government to clarify whether it also aspires to become one. He also wanted it to reveal what would be the quid pro quo for India in such a case. In this regard he referred to reports that US wanted India to take up the responsibility of patrolling the high seas for preventing nuclear proliferation. “The government must answer to these issues. It cannot hide behind the status of caretaker”, said Karat.

 

On Iraq, Karat asked the Vajpayee government to demand that the US should end the occupation of Iraq. He said this was all the more necessary as there was a unanimous resolution in Parliament seeking this. And the last one year experience of US occupation – whereby it was turned from a peaceful country to one where not a day passes without any incident of bombing, shooting, where a non-existent al Qaeda has got a firm hold – makes it imperative that the Indian government joins the global democratic sections demand of an end to US occupation.