Kozhikode, Aug 13: CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat today cautioned the Centre against “toeing” the US line on Syria, which is in turmoil, saying Washington wants the government there to be removed and India to “join their game”.
US Secretary Hilary Clinton had recently made a statement asking India to take a stand against the Syrian government, Karat said.
“If the people of Syria, which has a one party system, want to fight for democracy in Syria, they have the right to do so and India can extend its moral support, Karat said.
“But no country, particularly the US, has the right to decide who should be in the government in Syria,” he said, inaugurating a seminar ‘War on terrorism-US agenda on the Arab World'.
“Today they (US) are wanting the Syrian government to be removed and are asking India to join their game,” Karat said.
US was threatening India to fall in line with it as India is the president of the Security Councl of UN for the month of August, he alleged.
“Recently in the US, in a major magazine on foreign affairs an article had appeared saying India's role in the UN Security Council is not good enough to make it a permanent member of the council,” he said.
Over the years, the Indian government has taken a stand falling in line with the US and Israel on all West Asian matters, he charged, adding “that is why we say India must take a decision which conforms to the interest of the people of those country and must conform to the interest of our country.” PTI
