The Hindu : Implement Parliament resolution on Iraq: CPI(M)

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Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003

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Implement Parliament resolution on Iraq: CPI(M)

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 22. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded that the Vajpayee Government implement the Parliament resolution on Iraq, which condemned the war and sought withdrawal of the occupation forces from the country.

Criticising the Government for having considered a request from the United States for sending Indian troops in the wake of the resolution, the CPI (M) parliamentary party leader, Somnath Chatterjee, said at a press conference here today that this approach showed how "subservient" the Government had become to the "imperialist forces".

"No attempt has been made to honour the unanimous resolutions, moved by the Chair and passed by both Houses," Mr. Chatterjee said.

Without giving much thought to the resolutions, the Government had started considering the U.S. request, he said.

The resolution had categorically demanded the withdrawal of occupation forces of the U.S. and Britain and attacked the Government for its "ambivalent attitude" towards Iraq.

The Left Parties had earlier decided that the Opposition needed to be vigilant even though the Government had rejected the U.S. request to send Indian troops.

The parties had stressed on the need to discuss the implementation of the unanimous resolution.

"This is because the present desperate situation of the U.S. Government is forcing them to try and legitimise their occupation in Iraq through U.N.," they said in a statement earlier this week.

These parties observed that the formation of the governing council in Iraq by parties which had been largely financed by the U.S. was a step in that direction.

Therefore, in keeping with the resolution it was necessary to press for the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces.

Meanwhile, the Opposition ranks in the Lok Sabha have swelled with the National Conference responding to Mr. Chatterjee's invitation and sending its president, Omar Abdullahh, to attend the coordination meeting of Opposition parties.

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