By IANS
Kolkata : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday again warned the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government against proceeding with the India-US nuclear deal till it was discussed in the winter session of parliament.
“Our politburo has been authorised by the central committee to see that the UPA government does not proceed with the nuclear deal. This is a unanimous decision,” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters at the conclusion of the party’s three-day central committee meeting here.
“We want the matter to be discussed in the winter session of parliament. The matter could not be discussed the last time (in monsoon session) as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had disrupted parliament on the Ram Sethu controversy,” he added.
CPI-M along with three more Left parties provides crucial support to the UPA government.
Karat said the nuclear deal would also figure in the UPA-Left coordination committee meeting on Oct 5.
“We will discuss the issue with the Congress and UPA leadership before spelling out our stand. The party will also discuss the implications of the Hyde Act and the India-specific safeguards relating to the nuke deal and its implications on foreign policy,” the CPI-M politburo member said.
He, however, did not say whether the CPI-M will withdraw support if the central government went ahead with the remaining steps to operationalise the nuclear deal.
“The matter has not been discussed at the central committee meeting. The appropriate measures (against the government) will be dependent on what the government does,” Karat said.
He, however, said both the CPI-M and the UPA government were trying to resolve the issue.