By IANS
New Delhi : International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed El-Baradei’s visit here next week, during which informal talks are likely on a safeguards agreement on the India-US civilian nuclear deal, is not “provocation enough” to withdraw support to the government, Left sources said late Thursday.
The reaction was in response to media reports that the Left was upset over El-Baradei’s visit to India and would withdraw support to the government.
El-Baradei is coming to India on the invitation of the Hindustan Times newspaper to attend its Oct 12-13 Leadership Summit here.
The sources also said that the Left “is not likely to withdraw support tomorrow” (Friday) when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left coordination committee on the nuclear deal meets. The Left parties support the UPA government from outside.
Ahead of the meeting with the UPA, the Left parties – the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party – will hold talks among themselves.
During his three-day stay, El-Baradei will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visit the Tarapur atomic power plant near Mumbai.
He will also hold talks with officials of the Department Of Atomic Energy (DAE) during his stay here.