Leftist parties in India Saturday criticized the government for allowing a United States Air Force Hercules transport plan to land and refuel at an airport in New Delhi.
"Strong doubts have arisen in the minds of the people that such provision of landing facilities will gradually involve our country in the intended American war against Afghanistan," the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said in a statement.
The party said the government had recently given an assurance to opposition parties that India's involvement in the war against terrorism would not go beyond an exchange of information with the US.
"It looks like the government is trying to hide certain moves," the statement said.
Atul Kumar Anjan, the national secretary of the Communist Party of India, said: "It is strange that this has happened. Why were the United States planes allowed to refuel here?"
Government officials had denied that the landing of the US plane was in any way linked to possible attacks on Afghanistan, whose ruling Taliban has refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, the top suspect behind the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Officials said the plane was escorting senior US government officials.
The Indian government has offered logistical support to the United States, including the refueling of aircraft, for military action in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of CPI-M supporters staged a protest march in New Delhi Saturday against the Indian government's support for the US.
"We can't afford a US-imposed war so close to our borders," said Swadesh Bhattacharya, a member of the CPI-M politburo -- NEW DELHI (AFP)
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