Thursday, September 14 2006 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: US ambassador David Mulford has come under the Left fire again.

After his infamous letter a few months ago to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee patting him on the back for the economic reforms he pursued, Mulford's speech at the Indo-US economic forum on yesterday (Sept13, 2006)has left the comrades fuming.

"Both the CPI(M) and CPI said it amounted to interfering in India's internal affairs and that the government of India should take this "unsolicited advice seriously," he said.

"What was galling for the Left was Mulford's comment inter alias that political realities suggested that reforms in key sectors and policies of central interest to the investors will take longer than envisioned and that it is important to bear in mind that there are serious economic cost to any loss of momentum on the reform front," he said.

"Why does this Mulford have to always talk out of turn and render this unsolicited advice which the executive and legislature are competent to deal with?" senior CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu asked.

Reacting sharply, CPI national secretary D Raja said, "It has become fashionable for the US ambassador to meddle in our internal affairs. He thinks he has a right to dictate to a sovereign, independent country like India. It is not for Mulford to suggest what reforms we should pursue."