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March 18, 2000
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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
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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