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US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “breakthrough understanding” yesterday on deregulating US investment in India’s nuclear energy programme.
Washington objects to Indian laws which enforce supplier liability for nuclear accidents, which it says discourages US firms from getting involved.
But Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat slammed the threat to safeguards protecting Indian citizens.
“The government is trying to bypass the laws passed in parliament,” he said.
“President Obama is coming with an agenda — to pressurise and change India’s economic, security and strategic policies.
“We should not succumb to that pressure.”
Communists held nationwide protests against Mr Obama’s visit on Saturday, which saw around 150 CPI-M and Communist Party of India activists arrested in Sivaganga and Karaikudi, although police said those arrested were later released without charge.
Protests focused on India’s increasing alignment with US foreign policy, with the CPI-M expressing “strong opposition to the renewal of the Defence Framework Agreement for another 10 years.”
The agreement makes India “a military ally of the US on a par with Nato allies” and threatens India’s “strategic autonomy,” the party charged.
“India used to be known as a force that would fight for Third World nations,” CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury said.
“From now on India will be known as a junior partner of the US.”
Washington is also pushing for changes to India’s intellectual property laws to make patent enforcement easier.
But this would “facilitate US multinational drug companies making super profits and result in drugs becoming more expensive for the people,” a CPI-M spokesperson said.
The US president arrived in New Delhi yesterday for a three-day visit and will be guest of honour at India’s Republic Day festivities today.
Mr Obama said he was “honoured” to be the first US head of state to attend the ceremony — but the CPI-M said it was inappropriate since he was “attacking the sovereignty and independence of many states even today.”
