Centre making India ‘full-fledged” ally of US, says CPM

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday attacked the government alleging that it took a “dangerous step” when it agreed to let US military to use Indian Navy and Air Force bases after agreeing to an in principle agreement for Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).

The CPI-M said that the Narendra Modi-led government has turned India “into a full-fledged military ally of the US”.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, who was visiting India during 10-12 April, and Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on Tuesday an in principle agreement for a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).

“This is just another name for the Logistic Support Agreement (LSA) that the US enters into with military allies like the Philippines, South Korea and Japan,” the CPI-M said.

“Unlike what (Parrikar) says, refuelling, maintenance and repair facilities for American ships and airplanes will require the stationing of US armed forces personnel on Indian soil on a regular basis.

“Along with this agreement, the minister has indicated that two other agreements are on the anvil: Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).

“These will make the Indian armed forces command and control structure integrated with the US armed forces.

“In doing so, the BJP government has crossed a line which no other government has done since independence: converting India into a full-fledged military ally of the US.

“By this, the Modi government has compromised national sovereignty and the strategic autonomy of the country… It should immediately retract from signing the Logistics Agreement.”