The Hindu : Front Page : Congress agrees on political mechanism

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Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007
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Congress agrees on political mechanism

New Delhi Bureau

Bid to resolve stand-off with Left on nuclear deal

Senior Congress leaders meet CPI, CPI(M) leaders
More discussions with other Left parties to follow

NEW DELHI: In a step forward to resolve the stand-off with the Left parties on the India-U.S. nuclear agreement, the Congress on Monday indicated its willingness to have a mechanism (committee) at the political level to address their concerns.

The Left parties, however, made it clear that the mechanism would be meaningless if the government went ahead with operationalising the deal before addressing their objections. They also stuck to their stand that India should refrain from raising the nuclear safeguards pact at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting in September.

This emerged after a meeting here of senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with Communist Party of India leaders A.B. Bardhan, D. Raja and Gurudas Dasgupta. The meeting lasted an hour. The Congress leaders later separately met the leaders of the CPI(M).

“We have had a discussion with Congress leaders on the Left’s opposition to India’s nuclear deal with the U.S. The decision is that a mechanism can be worked out at the political level to address the objections of the Left parties,” Mr. Bardhan said after the meeting.

The composition of the committee and its terms of reference were also discussed. However, the details would be firmed up after further and wider consultations, including within the United Progressive Alliance.

Mr. Mukherjee is believed to have informed the CPI leaders that the committee would have the mandate to consult experts, but it would not be a committee of experts, as was being speculated.

The Congress leaders will also consult the Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party over the next two days. Thereafter, a meeting would be held with the UPA partners before scheduling another meeting with the Left parties on the outcome of this exercise.

Panel by month-end?

The CPI(M) indicated that further discussions with the Congress could lead to the setting up a mechanism or committee by the month-end to address Left concerns and objections.

“This was only the first round of discussions with the Congress leaders. There will be more discussions with other Left parties over the next couple of days,” Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member, told journalists.

Both he and CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat held discussions on the deal with Mr. Mukherjee. Mr. Antony and Mr. Patel were present.

Asked about the nature and composition of the proposed mechanism or committee, Mr. Yechury said it would be a “political one.”

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