The Left parties have sharpened their attack on the foreign policy of the Centre following their Tuesday?s onslaught against the UPA on its inability to control constant rising of prices.
The UPA?s ?pro-US and pro-Israel tilt? has come under their scanner, with the Left parties even contending that it will not hesitate to withdraw support from the government if it succumbs to ?the pressures of the United States and the Israel?.
The warning was reiterated on Wednesday in the wake of the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in both the houses of parliament that the government can ?neither end or mend? the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, which is being completely opposed by the Left parties.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury criticised the government’s ?silence on the Israel’s atrocities? in Gaza. Linking the developments in Gaza and ISRO’s launching of an Israeli satellite, Yechury said the government is keeping silent on ?the fact that Israel is behind the crisis in Palestine.?
?If the Centre falters on the independent foreign policy, we will pull down the government. We cannot afford to be drawn into the strategic tie-ups. We will not permit government to succumb to the US’s and Israel’s pressure,? Yechury said while reiterating his party’s opposition to the military exercises involving US, Japan, Australia and Singapore in the region.
He also criticised the government’s stand on the Hyde Act and the Indo-US nuclear agreement. ?The 123 agreement is anchored in the Hyde Act. Even the US secretary of state Condolizza Rice has agreed,? he said. ?We want the government to withstand the pressure and we will support them in that. But first it should acknowledge that there is pressure,? he maintained.