Communist Party of India-Marxist accuses U.S. of interfering into internal affairs

www.chinaview.cn 2009-05-15

NEW DELHI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has accused the United States of interfering into the internal affairs of India by holding meetings with Indian political parties leaders ahead of the forming of a new government in the country.

The U.S. Charge d'Affaires A. Peter Burleigh met Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani and a number of other parties' leaders over the past few days as India completed its month-long voting in the general elections.

"Its imperialist character has again revealed itself through its brazen interference in the affairs of an independent country," CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury told local media on Thursday.

However, the U.S. embassy immediately rejected the accusation saying "no political meaning should be read into the meetings".

"The U.S. categorically denies any attempt to interfere in India's democratic political process," a spokesperson for the U.S. embassy said.

Analysts said the CPI-M could play a key role in the forming of the next government as the Third Force led by the party has won about one fifth of the seats in parliament, according to exit polls.

The CPI-M is strongly opposed to the Indian-U.S. nuclear deal and said it would scrap the Indian-U.S. defense cooperation framework if it came to power.
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