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The Rediff Interview/ Harkishen Singh Surjeet

'America cannot ignore Pakistan'

T he Communist Party of India-Marxist is against American President Bill Clinton's visit to India, and but for the police permission that is not forthcoming, party leaders were planning a massive protest rally in Delhi against the trip.

In an interview with Onkar Singh, general secretary of the party Harkishen Singh Surjeet accuses the Vajpayee government of lowering the prestige of India by submitting to the whims and fancies of the American administration. He also lambastes Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh for making statements favouring the American government.

Why are you opposing Clinton's visit?

We are not opposed to the visit per se, but we are definitely opposed to the approach that India and America are adopting during the course of the visit.

Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh says this is an institutional visit and not by an individual. He says we will make a new beginning now. What does he mean?

Yes, I have seen the statements made by Jaswant Singh in various newspapers and I am appalled at what he has been telling the media. He says we are now entering a new period. The headline of one of his interviews is 'we wasted earlier time'. What does he mean by it? How did we waste time earlier?

At that time we were a leading the non-aligned movement. That was the glorious period of Indian democracy. India came out with Panchsheel during this period. The communists played a major role in the post-Independence period. Our friendship with the erstwhile Soviet Union helped keep the Seventh Fleet away from the Indian Ocean when we were fighting the Bangladesh war. But now our foreign minister tells us we are entering a new period just because we want to woo America.

What is America doing in Iran, Iraq and Yugoslavia? Why is the NATO still there when there is no Warsaw pact? How can the BJP understand the motives of selfish people when it did not take part in the freedom struggle? Until yesterday they were protesting against America. Now Jaswant Singh wants to tell us we are going to make a new beginning.

Do you think Clinton has a hidden agenda?

Such apprehensions are not incorrect, Clinton does have a hidden agenda. They have Kashmir on their agenda. It suits America if Kashmir becomes an independent country because then they will be able to control a strategic point in the Asian region. This has been their stand since 1953 onwards. It is nothing new.

Why do you think the Americans have an eye on Kashmir? Will Clinton try to mediate between India and Pakistan on this issue?

When Clinton signed a joint statement with Nawaz Sharief they got it cleared with Prime Minister Vajpayee. Do you know that? The statement had one sentence: 'Clinton would take a personal interest in solving Kashmir affairs'. What does it mean? And yet, they insist that Kashmir is not on America's agenda.

There was a lot of hue and cry when Clinton announced his intention to visit Pakistan. Do you think at any point of time the Americans may have seriously considered not including Pakistan?

All those who said the American president should not go to Pakistan did not understand one thing, that they don't decide the foreign policy of America. Americans refuse to be dictated in these matters. I had written a piece three months ago in which I had categorically stated that the American president would visit Pakistan because of its strategic importance. How can they give up Pakistan?

America would like to keep India in good humour but it cannot ignore Pakistan which it has been using for its own purposes in the past.

What about security for Bill Clinton? Are we not in a position to provide him security cover ourselves?

This was one of the major points which I took up during my press conference on Friday. It is an insult to India that the Americans should bring in security personnel in such a large number. Are we not good enough to give him fool-proof cover? We can do it. But the Americans do not trust anyone in this matter.

American presidents have visited India in the past but their security personnel did not exceed 20. But what happens when Clinton visits India? Two thousand security personnel come to India with 4 plane-loads of equipment. Not for just a couple of days but weeks ahead of the scheduled visit.

Would you be meeting the American president during his visit to India?

There is no question of me seeing the president of America. As far as we are concerned we are opposed to his policies. We are hailing a man who is going to retire by the end of this year. What are we going to get from them? We are looking for investments from American businessmen and multinationals but at what cost?

Will we sign the CTBT under pressure?

The Government of India has already agreed to sign the CTBT. Whether they do it during this visit or after some time, is immaterial.

Do you foresee any tangible benefits at the end of Clinton's visit?

I do not see any major achievement by the end of Clinton's visit. Yes, America would give some concessions here and there. America wants to impose its will on other countries. The main job of the Americans is to ensure that India, Pakistan, Russia and China do not come together under any circumstance.

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