Date:20/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/20/stories/2008092055841200.htm

National

Rallies to protest against “surrender to the U.S.”

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Stating that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had gone back on his assurance to come to Parliament on the India-U.S. nuclear deal after getting clearance from the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Left parties, the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) decided on Friday to stage a protest on September 25.

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled to meet U.S. President George Bush in Washington on that day when the deal is expected to be sealed, these parties decided to hold rallies and protest demonstrations all over the country against “this surrender to the United States.”

“The nuclear deal compromises India’s sovereignty and vital interests. The Prime Minister has gone back on his assurance that he will come back to Parliament after getting the clearance from the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Parliament has been convened only on October 17, well after the nuclear deal will be sealed in Washington,” the parties said in a joint statement.

It said the refusal to call Parliament came at a time when the country suffered a series of terrorist blasts, attacks on Christian minorities, continuing price rise and the adverse impact of the U.S. financial crisis.

While giving a call to protest against the signing of the nuclear deal and the bypassing of Parliament, the parties asked the people to observe the day as ‘Protest Day.’

On the same day, Members of Parliament belonging to the Left, the TDP and the JD(S) will hold a dharna on the premises of Parliament House against the “gross contempt and violation of parliamentary democracy,” the statement said.