Future of UPA coalition lies with govt: CPI(M)
New Delhi, Aug. 23 (PTI): Unrelenting on its opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(M) today made it clear that the future of the UPA coalition lies with the government not operationalising the agreement and sought to dispel the image that the Left was interested in pulling it down.
After a two-day meeting of its Central Committee, the top decision making body of the party, the CPI(M) for the first time said it does not want the current crisis to affect the government which it supports from outside.
"However, this is contingent upon the government not proceeding further with the agreement. The Central Committee, therefore, authorises the Politburo to take whatever necessary measures to see that the agreement is not operationalised," a resolution adopted at the Central Committee meeting said.
Addressing a press conference, party General Secretary Prakash Karat said "if the government decides to operationalise the agreement, the responsibiilty for the future of this government will lie with the government."
To a question, he said "...unfortunately we are in such a situation we are again trying to allay any apprehension that we are interested in this government going. We would like ... we don't want this crisis to affect the government, but it is dependent on how the government acts."
On reports that the Manmohan Singh government could continue as a minority government even without Left support, he shot back "government is functioning because of our support and if we do not support how it will go on."
Asked what are the options, Karat said that "we will discuss when the government operationalises the agreement" and added "I hope it does not happen."
The Central Committee resolution fully endorsed the stand taken by the Politburo that the bilateral agreement will bind India into a strategic alliance with the US with long-term consequences. It also considered the nuclear deal as it existed, subject to provisions of the Hyde Act which are binding on the US administration.
The Central Committee noted the various objections and apprehensions voiced by scientists, public figures and intelligentsia on the nuclear deal. Above all, it is a fact that the majority of Members of Parliament are opposed to the agreement, the resolution said.
"This alone should make the government pause and not proceed further with the next steps to be taken to operationalise the deal. "It is incumbent on the government, which commands a majority in Parliament only with the support of the Left parties, to heed the voices of opposition. It should examine the objections and clear the implications of the Hyde Act," it said.
Asked if the Left parties are withdrawing support, Karat said "I told you we have asked the government to pause, examine the objections, allay the apprehensions about the implications of the Hyde Act and heed the voice of Parliament and the Opposition."
To another question whether they were prepared to bring the government down if the deal is operationalised, he said if the government does so, "the responsibility for the future of the government will lie with the government".
Asked if they were ready for elections now, Karat said they have not discussed elections in the Central Committee meeting. To another question as to what were the options before the Left parties, he said "well, that we will discuss when it happens. I hope it doesn't happen".
Queried whether the party was open for working out details if the government was ready, he said they were ready provided the government did not take the next step in the agreement. "We are prepared for any ... we have already said three days ago that we are prepared to consider any mechanism or committee to examine all the problems connected with this agreement provided they don't proceed with the next step," the CPI(M) leader said.
To a question about government talking to members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), he said "we are aware of that and since the Japanese Prime Minister is here, I am sure the Prime Minister would have talked about that. We don't expect him not to do that".
On the IAEA meeting in September, he said "we know that we are members of the IAEA Board. Our representatives will attend the international annual conference. All these are normal things. We are not going into all these. We are not flustered by such things. "It is expected. We expect them to be there. We have to have Indian representatives there."
Asked to comment on the Prime Minister's statement that if winter is there, can spring be far behind, Karat said "I hope there will be no nuclear fission and we will have a long nuclear winter."
