CPM rejected a congress fresh move N-deal

The country inched closer to mid-term polls after CPM rejected a fresh move by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi to get its consent for starting safeguards negotiations with IAEA on the promise that no agreement with the international nuclear watchdog would be signed without the Left's approval.

Saying no to the Congress leadership, Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury also reminded Sonia and her colleagues - foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister AK Antony and Ahmad Patel - on Monday that CPM's central committee had authorised the party’s politburo to take appropriate action if the government went ahead with IAEA negotiations.

Sources defined "appropriate action" not just as withdrawal of support but also voting against the government in order to prevent it from operationalising the deal. Congress's latest proposal was made by Mukherjee to CPM veteran Jyoti Basu on Sunday. Basu directed Mukherjee to Karat.

The CPM general secretary and Yechury responded to Mukherjee's suggestion by saying that there would be little for the Left to do if it allowed the safeguards negotiations to begin.
"Once formal talks with IAEA begin, the Left's protest would have no meaning since it can be followed by NSG talks on its own. The government has to be stopped at this juncture or there would be no meaning of protest. We would not allow this," a party source said, explaining CPM's stand.

Courtesy:Times of India
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