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Monday, Apr 20, 2009
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Left withdrawal was a mistake: Somnath

I had sent a note to CPI(M)

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has described as a “mistake” the withdrawal of support by the Left parties to the United Progressive Alliance government in July last year over the India-U.S. nuclear deal and said he had cautioned against taking such a step.

“Oppose nuclear deal by all means”

Asked if withdrawal of support was a mistake, like the decision not to join the government in 1996, Mr. Chatterjee told NDTV: “Yes, very much so. I had sent a note to them [CPI-M].

“I told them don’t give up your stand against the nuclear deal. Oppose it. Say that the party will not be bound, warn the government, warn the people of the serious consequences that may be there,” he said.

Mr. Chatterjee, who was expelled from the CPI(M) after refusing to vote against the confidence motion last year, said he cautioned them against the move.

He told them, “don’t withdraw because you are only encouraging certain forces in the country which we have all been fighting against,” a clear reference to the BJP and its allies. — PTI

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