The Hindu : Front Page : Nuclear deal high on agenda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Nuclear deal high on agenda

Special Correspondent

Polit Bureau meet crucial: Basu

Progress of talks in committee to be reviewed
Issue of price rise to be discussed

KOLKATA: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu has described the one-day Polit Bureau and three-day central committee meetings of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which begin here on Friday, as “very crucial.”

The meetings come under the shadow of the controversial India-United States nuclear deal, to which the CPI(M) and other Left parties have serious objections.

The issue is expected to figure high on the agenda in the course of discussions that are to continue till October 1.

The progress of talks within the United Progressive Alliance-Left committee, which has so far met twice to look into the objections of the Left parties to the 123 agreement, the implications of the Hyde Act and how the deal will impact the country’s foreign policy and security cooperation, will come under the scanner.

What makes the meetings significant is that they come at a time when speculation is rife of an early general election, though the CPI(M) leadership has not given much credence to such a possibility.

The CPI(M) leadership has insisted that operationalising the deal be put on hold to enable a debate on it in Parliament and a scrutiny of its various aspects by experts..

Mr. Basu’s presence at the meetings could help facilitate a better understanding among senior leaders of his recent remarks endorsing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s contention that nuclear power was a must for greater industrialisation.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has, in the recent weeks, made it clear that his party does not want a political crisis but neither has he nor leaders of the stature of Mr. Basu minced no words over the CPI(M)’s disappointment with the Centre for failing to abide by the Common Minimum Programme on the basis of which it supports the UPA-led government.

Ramar Sethu issue

The Centre’s withdrawal of the affidavit on the Ramar Sethu issue from the Supreme Court, which some senior CPI(M) leaders view as being done with an eye on an early election, is also likely to figure in the discussions. Besides, the political situation in the country and the failure of the Centre to keep a check on the rising prices of essential commodities are expected to be part of the agenda.

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