Obama speech disappointing, ambiguous, says Left-2010-11-08

Obama speech disappointing, ambiguous, says Left

2010-11-08 22:00:00

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Describing his speech as 'disappointing and ambiguous', the Left parties Monday reacted adversely to Barack Obama's address in the Indian Parliament and said it had no mention of the 'suffering and poverty caused by the US policies'.

'We are indeed disappointed. The speech is very ambiguous,' Baudeb Acharia, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader in the Lok Sabha, told IANS.

CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury said though Obama spoke on a range of issues 'but there is nothing tangible'.

'Let the joint statement come. We will give a detailed response,' Yechury added.

CPI national secretary D. Raja said the US president in his address to Indian parliamentarians was 'pursuing the known US positions and protecting the interests of his country'.

'In regard to the US support to our cause, particularly the UN permanent seat, he only welcomed it. He has not stated in clear terms if the US will support India's bid. It is very ambiguous,' Acharia said.

He said the CPI-M welcomed the part of Obama's speech praising India as a power that has emerged.

'If we see the speech the words he has used to describe - historical heritage, powerful and great nation, it is a welcome,' Acharia said, adding the Left party was still analysing the speech 'line by line' to draw its reaction.

Yechury said : 'Let us wait for the Indo-US joint statement. The party would react in detail.'

S. Ramachandran Pilla, another politburo member, said they would come out with a 'detailed and official response' Tuesday.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) downplayed the US support for India's permanent candidature to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

'It is India's right to be a permanent member of the UN. India, a great nation, will be member of the UN for two years. Why are we playing up what Obama said,' CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta told IANS.

Asked how he viewed Obama's speech to Indian parliamentarians, Dasgupta said: 'Obama it seems has failed to understand that there cannot be any cooperation without respecting the basic right to live.

'I am not too impressed. In his speech he has sought cooperation on this and that... but what kind of cooperation he has sought even without recognising the fact that the whole world is shaken by the US economic policy.

'They have crushed the right to liberty. The basic right to live, food, jobs, means for education - these have been crushed. The world is suffering from poverty because of the US and there was no mention of that.'