The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on November 11, 2016.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly denounces the statement made by the defence minister that India should revise its “no first use” nuclear weapon policy.

This has serious implications both for India’s security concerns and for India’s standing in international relations.

 This statement represents a complete reversal of the long standing position of India as a country that champions a nuclear weapon free world and consistently stood by its commitment for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The defence minister’s statement clearly indicates that this government is negating India’s established stand on use of nuclear weapons in war. It jeopardises India’s security concerns by undermining the declared good neighbourly relations approach. Further it undermines India’s efforts for membership of international bodies like the UN Security Council and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The defence minister’s contention that these are his personal opinions is completely untenable. As a member of the cabinet collective in a parliamentary democratic system, under oath to the Indian constitution, such opinions that are contrary to India’s long established policy direction is a reflection of the complete lack of “governance” of this government. If the defence minister wishes to air his personal opinions then he may do so after resigning from the cabinet.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the prime minister, now on a visit to Japan, to conclude amongst others a nuclear agreement, must immediately clarify this government’s commitment to India’s long standing position of universal nuclear disarmament and the non-use of nuclear weapons in war.