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'To expect US and Pakistan to eradicate terrorism is to live in a fool's paradise'

24 September, 2001, New Delhi: Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechuri defended his party's position on why India should not join America' crusade.

Sitaram Yechuri : Hi,sorry I am slightly late. Shoot your questions.


Mediator : Dear Comrade,I would like to know that why the cpm is opposing america. see all terrorist attack to be critisised and the terrorism should be erradicated. see in india is also facing the same problems. could u explain why your party opposing usa. is it for getting minority muslim votes. see the cold period is over, so think the present one.
Sitaram Yechuri : Equating our opposition of USA's state terrorism with minority votes is preposterous. The cross border terrorism in India from Pakistan could be sustained all these years precisely because the American military and financial help. Now to expect that USA in alliance with Pakistan will eradicate terrorism is to live in fool's paradise. Also remember that India is a victim of terrorism perpetrated not only of Islamic groups. We lost two of our prime ministers in such attacks.

 : Mr.yechuri - The cpm general secretary remarks to america is completely wrong thing. See the present world want peace, so those who are breaking the peace should be punished and put into jail public. so the cpm should change the policy, this is not a time of cold war period. So we have to move according to the change.
Sitaram Yechuri : Yes, everyone wants peace. We also want justice. Those responsible for these horrendous attacks must be punished. But this cannot be the excuse to inflict more death and destruction. Remember for fifty years it is the American interventions that caused death of millions across the globe from Vietnam and more recently in Yugoslaiva and Iraq. We must soberly evaluate the situation and work for not allowing such incidents to reoccure. State terrorism practiced by America and individual terrorist acts like September 11 are two sides of the same coin. They feed on each other.

yechuri : they used these terrorists aganist communism
Sitaram Yechuri : You are right. They have been the biggest terrorist state for half a century. Unfortunately the price for their policies has to be paid by the innocent people. We can only work for ensuring that this vicious circle of state terrorism breading retaliatory terrorist attacks does not grow.

Nirmal : SIR,IF CHINA DOES NOT SUPPORT US WILL YOU PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT DECISSION COUNTRYWIDE?
Sitaram Yechuri : What China does is for China to decide. Our support or protest will depend upon the specific issue. We are also against a blanket support to the US. Our answer to Bush's statement that the world is divided between those who support the USA and those who support the terrorists is that Indian people do not support either the USA or the terrorists. They want justice and not revenge.

Rajiv : Hello Sir, Will You and your party be fully supported to Mr. Vajpayee (Hon'ble PM)at this moment and in future.
Sitaram Yechuri : Only if the Vajpayee government takes decisions which are in the interests of the people and the country. Unfortunately most of the decisions are not so and hence our opposition.

kars : why indian govt is in hurry to support usa ?
Sitaram Yechuri : Good question. We have not got an answer from the government as yet. They are behaving more loyal than the King. This would seriously compromise India's interests.

kars : SIR, IS THIS ATTACKS, INFLATION , LAYOFFS ETC WIIL LEAD TO RE_UNIFICATION OF ANTI-CAPATALIST ELEMENTS? IS THESE INCIDENTS CLEARLY SHOW THAT COMMUNISM ONLY WAY ?
Sitaram Yechuri : I wish there were more people like you who clearly see that Communism is the only way. Yes, all these attacks would combine to forge a popular's people's response and protests globally.

Lenin : Hi Sir, Would same attacks have hit China you all communist make lots of cry!!!
Sitaram Yechuri : The Communists on this occasions also were the first to condemn these attacks. We would condemn such attacks on anyone including you.

shibi : Hello Sir,What would your comments be on the light of the SC judgement on Jayalalitha ?
Sitaram Yechuri : The basic case which disqualified Jayalalithaa is currently under review before the Madras high court. But the Supreme court's decision reaffirms the supermacy of the Indian Constitution which in itself is the will of the people.

anil : Sir Is India doing write to act so quickly on Americas words
Sitaram Yechuri : Indian government is very immature in its response. It has virtually jumped the gun and offered every thing to America even before they asked for any help. Such responses have only lowered India's standing and prestige.

vijayant : Sir are there any chances of India getting involved in using millitary action against Osama Bin Laden.
Sitaram Yechuri : Hope not. Remember that Osama bin Laden was created by USA. The imporant question that all of us need to ask who is more dangerous, the Frankenstein's moster or its creator?

vilasdharkar : sir taliban already shoot two american spy planes still they r not taking action what do u think abt this
Sitaram Yechuri : They are talking a lot. Maybe they are trying to fix coordinates of Afganistan's anti aircraft defence systems.

IV : COMMUNIST PARTY IN INDIA ARE INDIAN TALIBANS
Sitaram Yechuri : What is the your name is it the Roman four or interavenous. I don't know if you are aware that the Taliban is the creation of USA in its fight against the erstwhile Soviet troops in Afganistan. Is it too much to expect from you that the communist party of India (M) was born out of Indian people's struggle and not by the mercy of the USA.

mukthi : SIR WHAT INDIA SHOULD DO NOW? WITH RESPECT TO TERRORISM SHOULD SUPPORT AMERICA IN FULLFLEDGED MANNER
Sitaram Yechuri : As stated earlier India should activate the UN process to combat terrorism in all respects. We are not yet clear what America is seeking. Retribution is not fighting against terrorism. Will the USA give the assurance that it will from hence forth not interfinge on the soverenignty of the independent countries and militaraily attack them, impose sanctions etc. Unless such a world order is created the breeding ground for terrorism cannot be eliminated. Will the USA stop aiding Israeli state terrorism against the Palestine. Will the USA force Pakistan to destroy the terrorist training camps in their country. Unless the USA gives assurances on these grounds its commitment to fight terrorism cannot be trusted.

kars : IF BINLADEN TO BE PUNISHED FOR DISTRUCTION OF WTC, WHY NOT ADHVANI BE PUNISHED FOR DISTRUCTION OF MOSQUE
Sitaram Yechuri : Good question. This is what is being examined by the Indian courts in the case that is currently pending. The destruction of the Babri Masjid and the attacks on the minorities Muslims, Christians are as much acts of terrorism as any other. Our fight against terrorism should be universal and not selective.

shiva : COMRADE:what is the stand of ur party regarding china aggression of indian territory
Sitaram Yechuri : We have clarified this many a times. The border dispute with China has to be resolved across the table and not through armed conflict. Some misguided people motivated by anti-communisim have characterised this stand as being anti-national. Finally what the governments of India and China have been doing for the last decade or so is precisely what we had suggested in 1962.

gms : Mr.YechuriDon't u think CPM is talking double std, while condemning corruption. Oneside you are supporting JJ and other side you are talking morality in public life
Sitaram Yechuri : There are absolutely no double standards. CPM is the only national party to have returned to the TATA trust a donation they had made to us for an election fund. In the case of Tamil Nadu on one side was JJ and on the other was Tehelka and DMK corruption. We therefore chose the combination of the secular forces against the communal forces.

rauf : what has india to gain or lose from the present circumstances?
Sitaram Yechuri : We could have gained had we moved maturely. Instead of seeking to be a surrogate and toeing their line we should have initiated the hastening of the UN process already under way to take effective measures against international terrorism. This would have substantially enhanced India's standing internationally.

venkatesh : Sir, can we know what are the implecation of war on indian economy
Sitaram Yechuri : The prime minister Vajpayee says that there would be serious negative implications. But he is using this as an excuse for drastic anti-people's economic measures which would be much larger than the war may impose.Apart from the fluctuations in the international oil prices nothing else would directly affect the Indian economy. International economy in any case slowing down for many months before these attacks.

Sitaram Yechuri : Thanks for the questions. See you soon. My time for this chat is over. Thanks again.

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