New Delhi, October 2
Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s remarks on the nuclear deal have provoked communists to state that the UPA government cannot take their support for granted.
Sonia Gandhi, reacting indirectly for the first time on the deal in New York, stated that there was no need for alarm on the Left's criticism of the Indo-US nuclear deal. Gandhi stated in New York that “sometime a great deal is made in public domain of the opinions expressed by our friends who support our coalition but this should not alarm you”.
Without referring to the nuclear issue, she also said “we believe that it is important to listen to all points of view because we believe that this only strengthens the democratic process and the process to arrive at a consensus”.
“She has said there are differences on the nuclear deal. But she did not say the way forward (to sort out the differences). I make it clear they cannot take our support for granted,” CPI leader D.Raja said while addressing a gathering of farmers, organised by the Janmorcha at Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, here today.
Raja said, "She has been candid enough to admit that there are differences (between the Left and the UPA) over the nuclear issue. But she has not indicated anything about how to resolve them.”
“The deal cannot be implemented. This should be put on hold. We do not want any compromise on it,” Raja said.
He said nuclear energy contributed only 2.8 per cent of the total energy generated in the country. Hydel and thermal power can augment energy generation. Finance Minister P.Chidambaram "does not speak about hydel and thermal power".
The Left parties, which would meet UPA leaders on Friday to discuss the nuclear and allied issues, have already made it clear that if the government went ahead to implement the agreement, it cannot
get their approval.
"There has been no change in our position. Even Parliament has not discussed the agreement as such, though there have been debates on the nuclear issue," Raja added.
"This deal is meant for creating a market for the US," he said, adding "Mahatma Gandhi had talked about self-reliance. Today we should think about being self-reliant in energy generation also."
Janmorcha leader and former Prime Minister V.P.Singh also criticised the nuclear deal, saying the "Hyde Act would be binding on us after the deal is implemented".
"The government at one time was supporting the Iran pipeline project. Now after US pressure, there is no development on that also," he said.
