JDU calls for unified opposition in Parliament to logistics deal
New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) The Janta Dal United (JD-U) on Wednesday condemned the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between India and the US, and called for a unified opposition to the deal in the next session of Parliament.
The agreement allows the armed forces of both the countries access to each others' military facilities for the purpose of refuelling and replenishment.
he JD-U said that after this agreement the US can use India as its military ally.
"This agreement is a clear departure from India's policy of strategic military neutrality. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not going to Venezuela to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit has already made it clear that he has no more trust in NAM," JD-U Spokesman K.C. Tyagi said.
"Such an agreement was first made by the US in 2003 when the US invaded Iraq. But the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government decided not to provide refuelling facilities to its ships and planes," Tyagi added.
He said that the US will use Indian bases "for war with other countries which will also create new enemy nations for India", particularly in the Gulf region.
"The JD-U calls upon all the opposition and nationalist parties to oppose this move of compromising India's sovereignty by the government. Since this is an issue of national interest, therefore it should be opposed in a unified way in the next session of Parliament," he said.
