Sunday, November 20 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat today (Nov 20,2005) asked the UPA government to spell out its stance on the Iran nuclear issue before the Parliament session begins on November 23 and cautioned that the foreign policy should have an independent idiom without giving in to outside pressures.

"If the Centre decides to vote against Iran, it should be viewed seriously as the focus should be on Indian interests, without succumbing to outside pressure" Karat said speaking at a Convention on `Indenpendent Foreign Policy', here.

In a veiled attack to the Centre, Karat demanded that the UPA spell out its stand categorically on IAEA meeting with regard to Iran nuclear issue and added that "Left parties are of the view that our foreign policy should be independent in nature, which takes care of the national interests".

Voicing the same feeling other speakers at the Convention said, the UPA government should have commitment towards independent foreign policy.

"The pro-US stand on Iran's nuclear issue being refered to UN Security Council has created a major debate", they said adding that the US has started a campign drafting Indian support to isolate Iran on the nuclear issue.

To dispel this notion, we have to make our stand on the issue very clear and the foregin policy should be drafted keeping national interests in view", Karat said.

India, which imports 70 per cent of its oil, should maintain good relations with Iran and be alert of the designs of the imperialists, Karat said.