Efforts on to make India junior partner of US: CPM

In a veiled attack on the United Progressive Alliance government, Communist Party of India-Marxist on Monday alleged people in power want to make India act as a "junior partner" of the United States.

"The men in power want to make India act as a junior partner for the United States," CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said. He was speaking at a two-day meeting of CPI-M Madhya Pradesh committee which commenced in Bhopal on Monday.

"The US wants to shift the burden of its economic distress on India and some third world countries", Karat said.

US President Barack Obama had, during his visit to India last month, entirely focused on the interests of America and its MNCs, the Left leader said.

Karat pointed out that for decades New Delhi had led the Non-Aligned Movement but now efforts were underway to make it as a "junior partner" of the US.

Referring to Madhya Pradesh, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state has been linked to terror attacks blamed on some Hindutva elements. The accused of Malegaon, Ajmer, Mecca Masjid and Samjhauta Express blasts have links with Madhya Pradesh.

The people arrested for these blasts were from Madhya Pradesh and the planning, too, had been carried out in the state, he said. "This is alarming," he said adding "such mindless violence was against the secular fabric of the country. Such things should be dealt with strictly".