BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 19: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday strongly criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for taking the country to an `undignified position' for the ensuing visit of United States President Bill Clinton. Speaking to ENS here, all-India general secretary of CPI A B Bardhan said hewas astonished to see the extravagant preparation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for the visit. "The Prime Minister has bowed down to US pressure and doing all non-sense to make Clinton happy," he said. He further said, never in the past, war marines of alien countries were allowed to harbour in an Indian port for the visit of head of a nation. A number of marines are harbouring in the Mumbai port for the visit of Clinton,said Bardhan. Alleging that Clinton's visit won't help India in any way, he maintained that the policies of United States of America (USA) are for the betterment ofdeveloped nations at the cost of developing countries. "All the sweet words of Clinton will help only USA and multi-national corporations (MNCs)," saidthe senior communist leader. He also pooh-poohed NDA Government's claim that the visit of Clinton would improve bilateral relations between India and USA. Bardhan said relations between the two countries improves only when both are equal in all respects, especially they is parity in economic parameters. If Clinton shows personal interest on the Kashmir issue and puts pressure on India to sign the CTBT, itwould not improve bilateral relations, he maintained. The CPI leader also alleged that USA was interfering in Indo-Pak relations and trying to make it an international issue. He took strong exception to the NDA government for the unstinted arrangements made by it in the cities where Clinton would be visiting. Bardhan also criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the lavish arrangements in connection with Clinton's visit to Hyderabad and displacement of all beggars from the city. "Chandrababu Naidu, who himself is a beggar, has dislodged all the beggars of Hyderabad to beg from Clinton," quipped Bardhan. The CPI general secretary announced that the left parties would go ahead with their mass rally at New Delhi on March 21 protesting Clinton's visit. Hesaid though the NDA government has banned the rally, they would defy any such order. The Central Government is behaving like the military government in Pakistan, he maintained.Asked why the CPI was supporting Dr R K Nayak, a Congress backed independent nominee for the Rajya Sabha election, against whom the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) has recommended criminal/departmental proceedings, Bardhan said the CVC has come out with hundreds of such names, including many Union Ministers who are accused in the Hawala scam. If action can be taken against all of them, the same should follow for Nayak also, he said. He said his party has only one MLA and abstaining from voting would help the BJP and BJD candidates. The CPI leader also alleged that the Indian Charge Chrome Limited (ICCL), a part of the Indian Metal and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) group of companies has defaulted on loans to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore taken from various banks and financial institutions. The loan amount includes accrued interest. He said ICCL is one among the 200 corporate houses who collectively owe banks more than Rs 11,000 crore.
