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We’ll not like to proceed with deal if Left withdraws support: Pranab

NEW DELHI: Amid hopes of conclusion of talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week, the government has said it will not “like to” proceed with the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal if the Left withdraws support but noted that pullout of the agreement will have “some adverse impact” on India’s standing in the world.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected suggestions that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s capacity to operationalise the deal had weakened after the Congress’ debacle in Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections. He made it clear that the government would not have the capacity to proceed with the deal if it plunged into a minority. “We would not like to proceed with the deal if the Left parties withdraw support from the government,” he told Karan Thapar’s ‘India Tonight’ programme on CNBC.

He, however, emphasised that if India pulled out of the deal, it would have “some adverse impact” on the country’s standing at the international level.

Mr. Mukherjee dubbed “absolutely hypothetical” when asked what the government would do if a satisfactory bargain was achieved at the IAEA talks but the Left still maintained its opposition.

“... before we went to the IAEA, their [Left] position was that ‘don’t proceed further’ [on the deal]. From that position we have improved something,” he said. Asked whether it meant that the government would be able to “push” the Left, he replied: “it is not a question of pushing. — PTI

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