Gokhale's claim that the Left opposed the nuclear deal under Chinese influence is baseless

New Delhi, 3 August 2021 Tuesday

Left parties have called former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale's claim that the decision to oppose the Indo-US nuclear deal, taken under Chinese influence, baseless.

CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said that the Left parties opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal as it had to compromise on India's strategic autonomy and its neutral foreign policy.

Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said in his book, The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiated with India, that China used its close ties with India's left to oppose the Indo-US nuclear deal at home.

Top leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) went to China for a meeting or medical treatment, where the Indo-US nuclear deal was discussed.

Minister of State for External Affairs V. Asked about Gokhale's claim, Muralitharan said the Left parties were known for crossing regional boundaries and showing loyalty to foreigners. However, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has denied Gokhale's claim.