M A I N   N E W S

Nuke Deal
Left to take fight to streets
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 22
As the stand-off on the nuclear deal continues, the 85-member central committee of the CPM is drawing out plans to corner the government inside Parliament and also to take the fight to the streets to build up momentum for the snap poll.

The debate on the deal in Parliament will be held on August 29 and 30 first in the Lok Sabha and then in the Rajya Sabha.

The highest decision-making body is holding an emergency meeting in the wake of the deal, which the Left parties claim impinges on the country’s sovereignty. It is also drawing out the strategy and tactics to be adopted by the party so that the Communists are not blamed for the fall of the government.

The central committee is likely to endorse the party politburo’s decision of warning the government not to go ahead with the deal. The government on its part has made it clear that it will not concede any ground.

The politburo had decided that if the government operationalises the 123 agreement it would have to face “serious consequences”.

In other words, the support to the UPA government would be withdrawn if the government goes ahead and negotiates a safeguards agreement with the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Only the apparent concession that the Left has offered is that Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar could attend the IAEA annual general council meeting in mid-September but should not negotiate India-specific agreement.

Sources said the Left parties had planned to withdraw support to the UPA government even if it independently comes to know that Kakodkar has taken the draft to the IAEA for discussion.

Party leaders said they had not heard officially from the government on the concerns expressed on the deal and the formation of a committee. They said the Left parties would not indefinitely wait for the government response and in any case, things would be clear whether the government is going ahead with the next step or not in the coming weeks.

The CPI has called an emergency meeting of its national executive on August 28 and 29 to decide on “next steps” in view of the stand-off between the government and the Left.

“In view of the political situation that has emerged on the deal and all other steps in the economic and political field and government’s domestic and foreign policy, the CPI has convened an emergency meeting of its national executive,” a note said.

The party said the national executive would decide on the next steps to be taken in the developing situation.

The sources said the Left parties would soon meet and announce their countrywide agitations after the debate in Parliament.

Although the debate would take place under Rule 193, which does not involve voting, the Left are planning to corner the government on the issue and make the country realise that the UPA coalition does not enjoy the support of majority in the House in favour of the deal.