The Hindu : Front Page : Forward Bloc’s threat to UPA government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 14, 2007
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Forward Bloc’s threat to UPA government

Vinay Kumar

Debabrata Biswas

NEW DELHI: Maintaining that the Left parties’ opposition to the nuclear deal was on ideological grounds, the All-India Forward Bloc (AIFB) on Thursday said it would withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government if negotiations were continued with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Proceeding with the IAEA negotiations will mean that the 123 agreement will also be operationalised eventually. The Forward Bloc will withdraw support to the UPA government in such a situation,” party general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Debabrata Biswas told The Hindu here.

“Honourable exit”

Admitting that the Forward Bloc had expressed its reservations about the Left Front’s decision to allow the government to open a dialogue with the IAEA as it signalled a change in position, Mr. Biswas said there could not be any compromise on the deal.

“However, the Forward Bloc agreed to the latest proposal to provide an opportunity to the government to take an honourable exit to abandon the deal.”

Though the outcome of the discussions with the IAEA would have to be presented before the UPA-Left Committee on the nuclear deal, Mr. Biswas felt that in practical terms it would mean little.

“All along, we opposed the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal and asked the UPA government not to proceed hastily to operationalise the deal. Our primary aim was not to destabilise the government. But the fact remains that in case the government does not concede our demand, we have no other way but to withdraw our support,” Mr. Biswas said.

The “ultimatum” by the Forward Bloc leader, who is a member of the UPA-Left Committee, came within a week of the one by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat. Mr. Biswas said his party would lead a march to Nandigram on December 23.

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