By IANS,
New Delhi : Terming the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver as neither clean nor unconditional, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Sunday called for cancellation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which is just a step away from realisation.
The deal, which is awaiting the US Congress’ approval for its realisation, would be cancelled in case a government supported by the CPI-M-led Left Front comes to power, Karat said after the party’s two-day politburo meeting here.
The next government should cancel the deal by giving six months’ notice – a provision in the 123 agreement for either party, he said.
“After the next elections, we will direct the new government to take steps to terminate the deal. We will work for this,” Karat said.
He said the NSG waiver for India represented another surrender by the Manmohan Singh government in its journey to operationalising the agreement.
“The NSG waiver is neither clean nor unconditional. As in the case of the 123 agreement and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards agreements, the waiver by NSG organised by the US will bind India to all the conditions set down by the Hyde Act,” the CPI-M leader said in a statement.
All these steps had gone against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance to parliament in August 2006, Karat said.
“We have told the Congress party, if you want the deal, first go the people and take their mandate before going ahead with it,” Karat said.
“We will fight against the deal in the country, not in Vienna or the US,” he added.
When asked what would happen if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance gains power, Karat said they had already stated they were not against the deal but they would renegotiate it.
The CPI-M would rally “all the democratic and patriotic forces” to fight the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s strategic alliance with the US, said the CPI-M general secretary.
He said the politburo discussed the matters regarding the formation of a viable alternative against the Congress and the BJP. “Our party has discussed the matter. Elections will come soon. We will work for the immediate alternative before the elections,” Karat said.
Commenting on Tata Motors’ Nano small car factory in Singur of West Bengal, facing protests from farmers, Karat said the politburo believes the project should stay and the government should take steps to rehabilitate the affected people.
The CPI-M leader blamed the central government for the spiralling rate of inflation and rising food prices. “The relentless price-rise exposes the failure of the central government to take the corrective measures required to bring some relief for the people.”
The easing of international oil prices has had no effect on domestic inflation. Accusing the UPA government of refusing to reduce the high indirect taxes on petroleum products, Karat said: “The government should withdraw the price hikes of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.”
Condemning attacks on Christians in Orissa after a Hindu leader’s killing Aug 23, Karat said strong action should be taken against the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for instigating violence against the minorities.
The central government has failed to direct the state government to provide security to the Christians, Karat said.