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Left warning on nuclear deal
Special Correspondent
| “If our concerns are not addressed, political consequences will be serious” |
NEW DELHI: The Left Parties on Friday warned the United Progressive Alliance of “serious political consequences” if it ignored the wide opposition to the nuclear deal with the United States.
If the Government did not concede and take steps to address the Left parties’ concerns, the political consequences would be serious, not only for the Government but also for the country,” CPI Rajya Sabha leader D. Raja said at a press conference. Basudeb Acharia, Mohammed Salim and Rup Chand Pal of the CPI(M) and Gurudas Dasgupta also addressed the press meet.
The leaders said while the Left was responsible, the Manmohan Singh Government should read the message when a majority of Members in Parliament would speak against it.
‘National tragedy’
Mr. Dasgupta said it was a “national tragedy” that a government that enjoyed the Left support was going in the direction of a strong partnership with the “imperialist” United States not just on economic but also on strategic cooperation.
Mr. Acharia said the Left expressed concern during the last monsoon session and the debate was taken to be the Sense of the House to which the Prime Minister gave assurances that the interests of the nation would be taken into account before entering into any agreement.
Asked what their stand would be in case the Government did not accede to the demand that the agreement be not operationalised, the Left leaders said they would put pressure on the Government by taking the issue to the people.
Walkout if there is a vote: Basu
Kolkata Special Correspondent writes
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Members of Parliament will walk out if there is a vote on the 123 agreement with the United States, as sought by the Bharatiya Janata Party, according to veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu.
“We are critical of the nuclear deal …but will walk out in the event of a vote on it,” Mr. Basu said after a meeting of the party’s State Secretariat. He reiterated Left parties’ demand for a discussion in Parliament on the agreement.
The BJP recently submitted a notice to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee seeking a discussion on the deal under Rule 184 that mandates a vote.
“We oppose the nuclear deal and have spoken to Sonia Gandhi …our comrades in Delhi have also met the Prime Minister, who is saying that it [the agreement] cannot be changed.
“They have sought a discussion in Parliament and he is saying that he will explain things in Parliament.”
Mr. Basu said a site for the proposed chemical hub — as an alternative to the one that was planned at Nandigram — would be identified within a month.
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