--classstrugggle-flipmag

Vol. 8, Issue : 6 June -2016 Modi’s Visit to US: All the Way to Washington to Genuflect In yet another visit the US, the Prime Minister NarendraModi seems to have agreed to all the demands made by the US imperialist monsters. This process of overtly aligning with the US imperialism began when Bajpayee was the PM and continued through the UPA and NDA governments. According to press reports quoting diplomatic sources, the US off icials expressed their “displeasure” over the slow pace of reforms, particularly in the field of market access, intellectual property rights, retrospective tax and goods and services tax, in official-level joint meeting. On his part, Modi assured Obama that the issues related to the market access for US companies will be thrashed out in the Trade Policy Forum due to be held before the end of this year. Modi immediately generated business to US companies by agreeing to start preparatory work on the designated site in India for six AP 1000 nuclear reactors to be built by the Westinghouse and to the finance package for this project to be arranged by the Export- Import Bank of US. The finalization of the contract will be signed in June 2017. There is a confusion in the Indian press whether the Westinghouse reactors would be erected in Gujarat or Andhra Pradesh. The joint statement merely said it will be at a designated place. Modi described this as the “largest of its kind”, he did not only paid attention to the safety of Indian people but also not even bothered to calculate the cost of electricity to the end-user. For this breakneck speed decision, Modi is rewarded with a promise to support fully the entry of India into Nuclear Supply Group and Missile Technology Control Regime. Back home Modi presented this as a symbol of Super power status f or India. Notwithstanding these claims, it is clear that India’s civil nuclear programme will be under full control of the US imperialism. The joint statement announced the ‘finalisation of the text of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement” which will be signed shortly. This will give access to the Indian military bases for US 2 armed forces as a routine affair. Modi went a step ahead and said India is open to other such agreements, such as Communication and Information Security Memorandum of agreement, which would facilitate further expansion of bilateral defence co-operation in practical ways”. The military ties between the two countries further pushed with DefenceTechnology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) which included items covering naval systems, air systems and other weapon systems. The US promised to assist India in building an aircraft carrier. Thus knot by knot the US imperialists are toeing India closer to its strategic aims as a junior partner. This is clearly visible when it comes to the socalled co-operation on Asia –Pacific region. As a part of “US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the AsiaPacific and Indian Ocean Region”. Though the joint statement used subtle words in this regard, the US imperialism pinned down India to specific action such as US-India maritime security dialogue and a Organ of the Central Committee of CPI(ML)