The CPM mouthpiece lauds the India-Russia agreement for ‘co-development’ of a fifth-generation fighter to be inducted around 2012-15 and that will serve the Indian Air Force through the next 30-40 years. People’s Democracy also suggests that Russia is more reliable a partner than the US.

“The most obvious inference one may draw from the deal is that India has well and truly embarked on a major modernisation of its air force to serve its defence needs well into the 21st century, at least at the top end of the fighter fleet with fifth generation capability. The production base in the aeronautics industry for manufacture of such an advanced aircraft will have significant linkages with other industrial and economic sectors...

“Does this deal signal that India will also ‘go Russian’ in its 126 MRCA tender? ... But there are sure to be powerful voices arguing in favour of diversification to ‘go American’ by buying, say, the F/A-18 Super Hornet... Russia, earlier the Soviet Union, has always been and continues to be a more reliable partner in military technology willing to share technologies and enter into co-production agreements, and now co-development too, all for much less cost in both financial and political terms. Can any partnership with the US offer as much?”

Too eager by half

The Bush administration’s insistence on the nuclear deal is criticised in an editorial. “US imperialism has once again displayed its over-anxiety in having the nuclear deal clinched at the earliest... For the beleaguered Bush administration, which is having the worst rankings in opinion polls for any US president in recent memory, this deal with India may be the only positive achievement that the Republicans can show to the American people in the run-up to the US presidential elections in 2008...” It goes on to say that the “the setting of such deadlines is in itself an insult to Indian democracy. The democratic processes of any country cannot be influenced by external pressures...”

PDS that works

People’s Democracy reports that the West Bengal government is taking measures to streamline the public distribution system. “As a step towards providing enough man-power to fuel the system in operation, 2000 people will be employed, adding to the human resources strength that exists in considerable measure. The employment will be done through the public service commission...To make the food inspectors more mobile, enough vehicles will be made available... The state LF government will sit in a meeting soon with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ensuring continuous and adequate availability of supplies of essential commodities.”