New Delhi, August 20
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pitched for nuclear energy for the economic growth of the country, Left parties today narrowed the options before the government on the nuke deal by categorically stating that the UPA should not go ahead with the talks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or they withdraw support.

After two-hour-long meeting, the Left said: “The government should not proceed further with the agreement…this would require not taking the next step of negotiations for the safeguards agreement with the IAEA.” Sources indicated that the mid-term elections were round the corner. The Left parties were in no mood to dilute their ideological position.

They said: “Even if this crisis is resolved, political relations between the CPM and the Congress are now untenable and it’s only a matter of time before the next crisis erupts.”

Atomic energy commission chairman is scheduled to go to Vienna in September to have negotiations with the IAEA on an India specific safeguard agreement. The IAEA board of governors has fixed November 22 for the ratification of the agreement.

After rallying behind the UPA allies, the Manmohan Singh government had hoped that they would be able to bargain hard with the Communists. It was in this context that the committee was agreed upon to look into the objections raised by the Left on implications of the Hyde Act passed by the US Congress.

Responding positively to the setting up of such a committee and wooing UPA allies on the “reasonableness” of their stand on the issue, the Communists said: “This can follow only when the next step at the IAEA is not taken.”

By this the Left parties have not just narrowed down the options before the government, but have also defined what they meant by “non-operationalisation” of the agreement.

External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, the chief negotiator of the government with the Left parties, had stated that the deal would be operationalised only after India had inked the country-specific agreement with the IAEA, concluded bilateral agreements with Nuclear Supplier Groups and the US Congress had ratified the deal.

“The Left parties reiterate their stand that in the view of widespread opposition and the fact that majority in Parliament is against (the nuclear deal), the government should not proceed further with the agreement,” said CPI leader D. Raja after a meeting of the CPM, the CPI, the RSP and the Forward Bloc.

“A committee to study the nuclear deal could be set up but only after the government decides not to take the next step,” said Raja.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said the oil import bill would put an unbearable burden on the country’s economy and nuclear energy would play an important role in addressing the country’s energy needs.

“Currently, the total domestic production of oil by Indian companies is less than one-third of the consumption,” Manmohan Singh said after laying the foundation stone of ONGC’s building.

“As we know, oil and gas reserves in India are quite limited. These facts compel us to think of a new strategy to deal with the rising energy demand,” the PM said, adding that nuclear and solar sources could play an important role in addressing energy security needs.

He said the government was committed to the development of nuclear energy. Energy security was of critical importance when the nation was aiming for a 10 per cent growth rate.

“India’s energy needs, which will increase the pace of economic development, cannot be met with oil and gas for long,” Manmohan Singh said.