The CPI(M) on Tuesday criticised the Centre for placing US as the ‘Major Defence Partner’. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said this decision has made India a “junior partner” of the US and it was totally objectionable as the matter was not discussed in Parliament.
Noting that the US has placed the details of ‘Major Defence Partner’ designation for Senate approval as part of FY 2017 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), Yechury said the Narendra Modi Government “has not even made a statement in Parliament about such a significant deal”.
“This is, sadly, a commitment by your Government to become a junior ally of the US in our own neighbourhood. This represents the final nail in the coffin of India’s independent foreign policy,” he said.
“These are significant concessions made by your Government which will make Indian defence forces open to American scrutiny, and Indian defence production under the control of the USA. Serious apprehensions arise about your Government compromising India’s sovereignty and strategic autonomy,’ the CPI(M) leader said.