A Conversation with Prakash Karat He Told Senior American Diplomat in 2005 He Favoured Good Bilateral Relations but Opposed the U.S
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CHENNAI THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011 13 A conversation with Prakash Karat He told senior American diplomat in 2005 he favoured good bilateral relations but opposed the U.S. on a number of key issues Suresh Nambath the Indian political scene for cable reported Mr. Karat as viding good service. “Raising does a poor job of managing and demonstrated that small years to come, and could play saying it should be cleared on the cap to 74 percent as Con- the coalition.” Further, “Kar- farms can be productive.” He CHENNAI: While reassuring the an increasingly important a case-by-case basis. His view gress proposed ‘would erad- at was confident that the CPI cited Kerala as an example of United States government of role in the formation of future was that the requirements icate Indian companies,’ (M) would expand its influen- the progress an Indian State “friendly intentions and a de- Indian governments.” must be prioritised to ensure Karat maintained, and in any ce, but had no illusions that it can make when land reform sire for good U.S.-India rela- The cable, sent under the that the FDI benefited the case the communication sec- could form a Third Front ca- was coupled with invest- tions,” Prakash Karat, general name of Mr. Blake, has been country through employment tor should not be completely pable of taking power in New ments and inputs. He con- secretary of the Communist accessed by The Hindu creation and technology foreign-owned for security Delhi any time soon… There trasted the State’s Party of India (Marxist), through WikiLeaks. transfer. On retail trade, the reasons.” have been three such ‘experi- performance with that of Ut- made it clear to a senior Mr. Karat told Mr. Blake CPI (M) was apprehensive The confidential cable re- ments’ so far in India, with tar Pradesh, which had one of American diplomat in that the CPI (M) had no prob- that opening this sector to ported that the general secre- little success. The CPI (M) is “India’s most corrupt bu- mid-2005 that his party lems with stronger economic foreign companies would dis- tary of the CPI (M), which cautious and wants to create a reaucracies” and where all would oppose the U.S. on “a ties between the U.S. and In- place labour in the small trad- was supporting the ruling stable coalition, not just an ad policies were hampered by number of issues that matter dia, and that the party found ing sector and put Indian United Progressive Alliance hoc alliance. To be successful, the caste factor. to the USG such as some FDI, increasing trade, especially in shopkeepers out of business. at the Centre from the out- there must be a common pol- The Charge pointed out privatization, missile defense the Information Technology The cable recorded in de- side, was well aware of his icy plank to which all the par- that developing countries and military to military sector, promising. “On the tail the conversation on this party’s limitations in this ties must agree, he stated.” benefited from investment in relations.” whole, he emphasized, his issue: “To demonstrate CPI context: “Karat joked that the basic health and primary and In his first meeting with party favors improved bilat- (M) commitment to case-by- CPI (M) has little leverage on ‘Wary of grand visions’ secondary education and that U.S. Embassy officials after eral relations, but wants In- case examination of FDI pro- these investment issues, as Asked whether the Com- USAID (United States Agency his election as general secre- dia to maintain its posals, Karat noted that his the GOI can make many in- munists had a vision for In- for International Develop- tary in April 2005, Mr. Karat ‘independence’ and has ‘res- party had no objection to in- vestment decisions without dia, Mr. Karat replied that ment) had large health pro- welcomed closer ties between ervations’ on several issues, creasing FDI in civil aviation, parliamentary approval. In- they were “wary of grand vi- grammes in India. “Karat the United States and India, noting that the CPI (M) ob- which benefits the country. surance is an exception, and sions.” However, the Left par- agreed, noting that the Com- and FDI on a case-by-case ba- jects to the proposed US pro- The party wants to ensure there the party could use its ties wanted to implement munists were pushing the sis, stressing that it must ben- vision of a National Missile that the GOI [Government of clout to oppose proposals to land reform throughout the GOI to increase spending in efit the country. Defense (NMD) system to In- India] gives preference to do- increase FDI from 26 to 49 country, which would be both sectors, especially in the dia. The party wants closer mestic capital over foreign in- percent.” nothing less than an agrarian rural areas.” ‘Talented and skillful’ ties with Pakistan and does vestment in certain areas. As for domestic politics, revolution. According to the cable, the Overall, the meeting be- not want to encourage an In- ‘We want India to build on its the cable sent by the New “He asserted that many of discussion ended with Mr. tween Mr. Karat and Charge dia-Pakistan arms race.” strengths, and have no phobia Delhi Embassy to the State India’s development prob- Blake — who was to become d’Affaires Robert O. Blake, Jr. On the NMD, the Charge against foreigners, like the Department reported Mr. lems stem from its failure to the U.S. Ambassador to Sri and the Political Officer of the responded that the U.S. pro- swadeshi wing of the BJP,’ he Karat as emphasising that enact land reform, leading to Lanka in September 2006 — U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, posal was only for a “limited stated.” “the Communists wanted to unequal agrarian relations expressing the hope that “the on May 4, 2005 went very missile defense system that Mr. Blake’s response to this ‘He will be a powerful figure on the Indian political play a responsible role in gov- and skewed rural develop- Embassy and the CPI (M) well. The Embassy, in a cable would be a stabilizing influ- was predictable. Holding up scene for years to come.’ — PHOTO: M. VEDHAN erning India and avoid con- ment. Karat defined land re- could maintain regular con- to Washington the same day ence.” Likewise, the U.S. was China as an example before frontation and harsh form as the strict tact and discuss the issue” (31968: confidential), de- interested in supplying com- the Marxist leader, he sion of markets would more much-needed infrastructure rhetoric” but were deter- enforcement of land ceilings and Mr. Karat welcoming the scribed Mr. Karat as a “talent- bat aircraft to India, “as this claimed that research had than make up for job dis- projects.” mined to oppose policies that and the distribution of land to chance to open a dialogue ed and skillful leader who is will meet an existing need, documented that opening placement.” clashed with their ideology. the landless.” with the United States gov- well-aware of his political im- and the prospect for India-US China to retail trade benefit- The Charge took the op- On telecom Interestingly, Mr. Karat The Marxist leader noted ernment and discuss issues portance.” The CPI (M) lead- co-production will benefit the ed its economy. Chinese sup- portunity to pitch for a liber- Mr. Karat saw no reason to emphasised that the Left was that land reform was the face-to-face and promising to er, the Charge reported, could Indian economy.” pliers to Walmart, he noted, alised banking sector, saying raise FDI in the telecommu- “the UPA’s strongest guaran- strength of the CPI (M) in hold more such meetings on a walk a fine line and draw sub- On FDI, a subject of con- created more jobs than were it would “introduce long- nications sector as India al- tee of stability…as the Com- West Bengal, “where it in- regular basis. tle distinctions in policy. siderable importance for the lost. “India would benefit term banking methods that ready had private companies munists do not want this creased agricultural produc- The meeting took place at “Relatively young [at 57], he U.S., which figured promi- even more, as it has a strong don’t currently exist in India in competition with a viable government to fall and it will tion, made the state into the CPI (M) headquarters in will be a powerful figure on nently in the discussions, the private sector and the expan- and provide financing for public sector entity and pro- not do so unless Congress India’s largest rice producer, New Delhi. IC-814: FBI worried India was withholding information MEA added to Nirupama Subramanian tial, March 24, 2005; 32567: functionaries also reportedly Chief of Mission Robert Blake ankar, Mr. Blake cabled on confidential, May 13, 2005). in the custody of U.S. forces.” wrote also that the CBI had November 18, 2005 that the CHENNAI: The Federal Bureau The non-papers asked for The two senior Taliban gov- given a visiting FBI team ac- Indian official had raised of Investigation thought Indi- information relating to the re- ernment functionaries were cess to “hundreds of docu- doubts about U.S. intentions confusion over 2008 an requests for information ported seizure of documents ex-civil aviation minister ments” to enable U.S. to prosecute the accused in its on the IC-814 hijacking were about the hijacking by U.S. Mansoor Akhtar, and the Tali- prosecution of the IC-814 own case on the 1999 hijack- “fishing expeditions,” but it forces operating in Afghanis- ban corps commander, Akhtar case.