Thursday, September 29 2005 17:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Accusing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of 'betraying the friendship with Iran' by voting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against it, the Communist Party of India (CPI)(ML) today (Sept 29, 2005) demanded that the Center immediately reverse its stand and oppose then 'autocratic' policies of the US.

Addressing a protest demonstration by activists of CPI(ML) and All India Students Association here, party General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, "Iran is a friend of India. We have good trade relations with it. By voting against Iran under US pressure, India has betrayed this friendship."

"UPA should step back from the stand taken by it at the IAEA and must stand with the third world countries to fight the autocratic policies of US President George W Bush," he added.

The activists also burnt an effigy of Bush.

Criticising the economic policies of the UPA Government, Bhattacharya said if these were not changed, 'it will face the same consequence as the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.'