Speaking at a CPM function here to mark the 90th anniversary of the Soviet Revolution, Karat made no mention of the nuclear deal but underlined his ideological opposition: “We shall not rest in our fight till strategic ties with the US are snapped.”

He said that the sole strategy of the US was to capture the Indian market. And why does US wish to “capture” the Indian market? “Because China will be equal to the US in terms of economy and growth by the middle of this century,” Karat said, “so China has to be encircled.” He said the US was trying to make India its strategic ally to counter China, “the most powerful socialist country capable of challenging the might of the USA”.

He said the Government is aware of this “US hegemony” but prefers to remain silent.

“USA has also changed its tactics of making Pakistan its strategic ally as it has now realised that if it can get India as a strategic ally, the balance will be tilted in favour of imperialism and neo-colonialism”, he said.

The strategic document of the US administration recognised China as a major threat to US hegemony, Karat said. India, with its potential for development, “is preferred as an ideal ally of the US. If it can get India as its ally, it can be a big game for the imperialists”, the CPM leader said.

“India is a prize for the US and not Pakistan because of its market. Developed India can be useful for counter-balancing China. This is a game the US is trying to play which has to be foiled”, he said. “The US has the power to interfere in any part of the world and (President) Bush is already threatening World War III...Our government thinks being on the side of the US will be the right choice. But we have taken up a task —- to expose the US.”

The ruling class in India, Karat said, believed that there would be development if India is on the right side of the USA. “West Bengal is the advanced post for the fight against imperialism and in the coming days, it will continue to put up its resistance”, he said.

At a separate meeting earlier in the day, Jyoti Basu told the party’s women’s wing to fight for the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and resist the UPA’s “anti-people” policies.

Basu said the CPM was supporting the Congress-led UPA solely to isolate and defeat the BJP. “Our party was not for joining the government but we decided to support the Congress-led government so that the required numbers for a majority are ensured. It was our task to isolate and defeat the BJP,” he said.