New Delhi, September 10
Ahead of the first meeting of the UPA-Left committee to sort out differences on the nuclear deal with the USA, Left parties today toughened their stance, saying nobody can convince them that the Hyde Act will have “no role or effect” on the bilateral agreement.

The supporting parties bluntly rejected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s suggestion that India should not miss the bus of nuclear renaissance, as they insisted that “the destination of the bus will be the stranglehold (Dhritarashtra Alingan) of the United States”.

“There is a committee set up between the UPA leaders and the Left leaders. Yes, we will try to put our point of view across, try to make them understand what are our objections, not only ours, but of a wide spectrum of public opinion ranging from scientists and those who are concerned about foreign policy, concerned about our strategic autonomy, energy security.”

“All these issues we will discuss. But nobody will be able to convince us that the Hyde Act has no role, no effect on this bilateral agreement. I know they will put very eminent lawyers from their side. But this is not a matter to be argued in a court of law,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said here.

Significantly, Karat’s strongly worded statement came at a convention where leaders of the UNPA constituents — TDP and Samajwadi Party — were also present. — PTI