The Hindu : Front Page : Congress denies deal with Left to ‘go slow’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Congress denies deal with Left to ‘go slow’

Yogendra Kanwar

SHIMLA: The Congress on Monday denied any understanding with the Left parties to “go slow” on the nuclear deal because of the Gujarat elections, and asked parties to rise above “political considerations” and allow India enter the global nuclear commerce.

“He [Communist Party of India –Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat] has his own opinion; we have our own,” Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told newsmen when asked about Mr. Karat’s reported observations. According to agency reports, Mr. Karat told the Delhi CPI (M) unit on Saturday that “the issue must be resolved by December end. If they [the Government] still go ahead, we will have to be prepared for a mid-term Lok Sabha election.”

Mr. Sharma denied any “understanding” between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left to allow officials to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for India-specific safeguards in view of the Gujarat elections. “No, there is no deal between the UPA and the Left before the Gujarat elections that allowed the Centre to go to the IAEA.” The Centre had “duly addressed” the concerns of the Left and other parties, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page