Left puts UPA govt on notice, will assess ties

New Delhi: The Left Front has asked the Government not just to stop the Indo-US nuclear deal but review its entire foreign policy, which they allege tilts towards America.

Asked if the four major Left parties would withdraw support to the government if it doesn’t block the nuclear deal, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said the matter had not been discussed.

Karat announced that the Left parties would protest India’s first joint naval exercises with the US from September 4 in the Bay of Bengal. "We will assess our relations with the UPA as our third agenda after our protests against (the) naval exercise," he said.

The Government depends on Left parties heavily but does not need Parliament’s approval for the nuclear. The Left parties, therefore, will demand a constitutional amendment so that international treaties and certain bilateral agreements have to go to the parliament for approval.

"The US is exerting pressure on India to buy a whole range of weaponry such as fighter planes, helicopters, radars and artillery involving multi-billion dollar contracts. The aim is to ensure 'inter-operability' of the two armed forces," Karat was quoted by IANS as saying.

"Steps have been taken (after the July 2005 nuclear agreement) to entangle India into a complex web of political, economic and military relationships as part of the strategic partnership", he said. India is being asked to "join US efforts in isolating and even sanctioning Iran".

CPI leaders A B Bardhan and D Raja, All India Forward Bloc leader G Devarajan and Revolutionary Socialist Party MP Abani Roy were present when Karat unveiled the Left's plan of action against the UPA.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi hinted that the Government was ready for a discussion on the nuclear deal in Parliament.

Dasmunsi said the Government would abide by whatever decision the presiding officers of both houses of Parliament took on the BJP’s demand that the matter be discussed in Paliament.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to discuss the nuclear deal with the Left parties.