Indian Political Parties

"This war has no justification. It is more driven by the economic interests of the US-its interests in the oilfields of the Gulf… The west in general and the United States in particular claims to be civilised... Does their civility allow them to slaughter innocent and helpless people of Iraq? It is a shame that 56 Muslim countries cannot get under one banner and get the US to stop its aggression against the poor Iraqi people… If America succeeds in subduing Iraq, the neighbouring Muslim countries should realise and be sure that it would be their turn next."

- Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Member, Executive Council, All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Srinagar, March 21, 2003.

"The war on Iraq was a direct onslaught on the whole of Asia and the third world and was singularly detrimental to India's own economic and strategic interests, yet the pro-US Vajpayee government had refused to oppose the war… Bush and Blair knew it very well that the world did not believe a word of their audacious arguments for war and hence they withdrew the resolution fron UN Security Council."

- Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, Communist Party of India – Marxist Leninist (Liberation), Delhi, March 21, 2003.

"The U S action in Iraq is unfortunate and we feel that it was without justification as it was outside the resolution of the U N Security Council,"

-- M Venkaiah Naidu, President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Delhi, March 20, 2003.

"The Congress party cannot but deplore this decision to go to war against a non-aligned sovereign member of the United Nations… the U.S. decision tramples upon the United Nation's Charter, denigrates the Security Council, flouts Internal Law, does grave injury to the Concept of National Sovereignty and sets dangerous and unacceptable precedents."

- S Jaipal Reddy, Spokesperson, Congress Party, Delhi, March 20, 2003.

"This is a blatant and totally unjustified war of aggression against a sovereign country. It is a war for grabbing the rich oil resources of Iraq and is a further step towards America's hegemonistic designs… The future of the U.N. itself is at stake''.

- Central Secretariat, Communist Party of India, Delhi, March 20, 2003.

"… butcher brigade of Bush and Blair has revealed their imperialist-fangs by launching a war after withdrawing their resolution in U.N. in the face of a sure defeat''.

- Statement of the Communist Party of India – Marxist-Leninist (Liberation), March 20, 2003.

"The United States has begun its military attack on Iraq. Defying worldwide opinion and failing to get the sanction of the United Nations, Bush has embarked upon an act of war which is criminal and unjust on all counts. The leadership of the United States and Britain will have to bear the full responsibility for the lives lost and the devastation caused to Iraq. History will not forgive them for this crime. The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) reiterates its demand that the Indian government categorically condemn the American aggression and announce forthwith that no Indian facilities will be made available for any purpose associated with this war. The Polit Bureau calls upon all its Party units to immediately mobilise the people to conduct a powerful united protest movement against the war and to express solidarity with the Iraqi people."

- Press Statement, Polit Bureau, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Delhi, March 20, 2003.

"Will the government state that it will not allow any facilities to the US in case a war starts?… Government is not even willing to name the US in any statement or resolution. We have become almost subservient to the US… Their ambivalent stand of taking a middle-path is aimed at keeping the US happy. What is the middle-path.... between war and peace, between US threats and Iraq trying to protect its sovereignty."

- Somnath Chatterjee, Member of Parliament, Communist Party of India-Marxist, March 11, 2003.