Left to PM: blacklist Israeli weapon firms

In a letter to the PM, leaders of four Left parties, including CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, have expressed “growing concern over the manner in which arms deals with Israel are being conducted.” They have asked the PM to take strong action against the errant Israeli firms “immediately” and ensure that the CBI pursues the Barak case to its “logical conclusion”.

According to the letter, the Barak deal was rife with procedural violations and outright corruption. “It has now become clear that Israeli arms manufacturers, including government-owned entities, have been blatantly violating Indian laws by using middlemen and by giving kickbacks to officials involved in the decision-making process”, it says.

While mentioning the recent CBI raids and subsequent arrests of the Nandas, the Left says that evidence has also emerged in Israel of the “bribery” and corruption, including payments to agents in India. “Regrettably, despite all this evidence, the UPA Government has shown a remarkable reluctance to take action against IAI, Rafael and other Israeli arms companies,” the Left alleges.

Criticising the Government for furthering its alliance with IAI by going ahead and signing a $2.5 billion deal for co-development of more advanced Barak NG and Barak-8 missiles, the Left said this amounts to adding “insult to injury” and then goes on to ask: “How can India proceed with this deal in the face of evident wrongdoing by Israeli firms?” The letter also says that the Government is sending out “wrong signals” to international arms manufacturers at a time when India is “embarking on huge overseas military acquisitions, with the potential to corrupt and derail the entire system”.

Incidentally, the latest issue of People’s Democracy also had some harsh words for the Indo-Israeli defence relationship. “The time has come to heed the voice of the Indian people and break our dangerous military and security ties with Israel.”

The Left parties, along with Samajwadi...