Kerala - Alappuzha   

UPA committed to national interests on N-deal: Minister

Ashwani Kumar says the Congress is ready to ‘walk the path alone.’

ALAPPUZHA: Union Minister of State for Industries Ashwani Kumar has stated that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and the Congress will “walk the path alone” if “friends in the Left” do not support their point of view on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and the former spokesperson of the Congress said the UPA government and the Congress remained irrevocably committed to larger national interests.

“Therefore, in our scheme of politics, the ultimate objective is to advance what we perceive to be in national interests. The talk of early Lok Sabha elections is in the context of the Left’s stated intention to withdraw support to the UPA government if we proceed further with the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. In this context, I reiterate with all the force at my command that as stated by the AICC, national interest will never be compromised by the UPA government.”

“We would like our friends in the Left to support our point of view, but if that is not possible, we will walk the path alone. At the same time, we would like to ensure that all secular political formations in the country work together to fight and keep away from power casteist and communal forces.”

“The Left’s opposition to the nuclear deal is not only untenable, but it also goes against the aspirations of the nation and will do grave injustice to the future of India. I do hope that keeping in view critical national imperatives, all secular forces will come together to advance national goals. The Congress is ready to take the issue to the people’s court whenever necessary,” Mr. Kumar said.

Mr. Kumar earlier visited four coir yarn processing units in the district at Kattachira, Pallipuram, Kalavoor and S.L. Puram. He was accompanied by Coir Board chairman A.C. Jose.

In cooperation with the State government, the UPA government would exponentially expand the potential of the coir industry, he added.

Attempts by some Left parties to weaken the Central government will only help the BJP, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has said. He was speaking to mediapersons in Kochi on Sunday. Mr. Ravi said that the Centre had expressed its willingness to discuss all issues with the Left parties. One among the main aims of the UPA government was to keep the BJP out of power, he said.

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