By IANS,
New Delhi : Criticising the Left parties for “blackamailing the government and the prime minister” on the India-US civil nuclear deal, the Congress Thursday said only “communal forces” would gain if they withdraw support to the ruling coalition.
“They are blackmailing the government and the prime minister,” said Congress spokesperson and senior leader M. Veerappa Moily at a press conference here Thursday.
“We never expected the Left to withdraw support. It could only strengthen the communal forces,” added Moily.
The four Left parties are expected to meet Friday to take a final decision on withdrawal of support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Left leaders have made it clear this week that it was only a matter of time before they withdrew support to the government.
The acrimony between the Congress and the Left over the last few weeks has intensified with both sides levelling charges and counter-charges.
“I want to know what the Left plans to gain from taking such a stand (withdrawing support). They are changing their stand every day,” said Moily.
Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and MP D. Raja accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of bringing the political situation to this stage of a crisis.
“The prime minister is acting against national interest,” said Raja.
Moily said in reply: “Any patriotic party which withdraws support to the government on the nuclear deal will have to answer the conscience of the nation.”