UPA-Left mechanism on N-deal likely this week
The two sides seem to have agreed on an institutional mechanism at the political level to address the allies' concerns.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: In signs of a thaw in the government-Left stand-off on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the two sides seem to have agreed on an institutional mechanism at the political level to address the allies’ concerns. It is expected to be in place this week.
Left sources said a meeting of the UPA and the Left parties, apparently to concretise the mechanism proposal, is likely to be held on Wednesday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other top coalition leaders are expected to take part in the meeting.
This follows talks between senior Congress leaders, led by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, and top leaders of the CPM and the CPI separately on Monday as part of the moves to resolve the crisis triggered by the Left parties’ demand that the government should not operationalise the deal. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart AB Bardhan held talks with Mr Mukherjee, who was assisted by defence minister AK Antony and Ahmed Patel.
While there was no word from the Congress side, both the Left leaders insisted that the proposed mechanism — to go into issues arising out of the provisions in the Hyde Act in the US and the 123 Agreement recently entered into between the two countries — should be at the political level involving leaders from both sides.
However, Mr Bardhan and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury maintained that they stuck to their opposition to the implementation of the deal, which they said should not be operationalised. The CPI veteran also said that the government too stuck to its position on the deal. After the meeting, Mr Yechury said that “the talks (between Left and the government) will continue for the next two to three days and by the end of the month, we think that we will be able to announce something concrete”.
Mr Yechury said they have “reiterated to the government the position of the CPM central committee, politburo and the Left parties” during the first round of discussions on Monday. The Left parties have already expressed their willingness to consider any mechanism to look into their concerns, but had made it clear that the government should not proceed with operationalising the nuclear deal. There was also no word from the government on Monday on the Left’s demand that the deal should not be operationalised.
Asked whether they got any assurance from the government that the deal will not be operationalised, Mr Yechury said: “I won’t be able to say everything because discussions are on and will continue for the next two days. They have to consult with their allies and we also have to talk to other Left parties. That is why I am saying things will be clear in the next two days.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Bardhan said “we have discussed all the questions” and it was decided that a mechanism should be worked out to deal with the crisis-like situation. The government is expected to hold separate discussions with other Left parties — the Forward Bloc and the RSP — in the next two days.
Left sources said a meeting of the UPA and the Left parties, apparently to concretise the mechanism proposal, is likely to be held on Wednesday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other top coalition leaders are expected to take part in the meeting.
This follows talks between senior Congress leaders, led by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, and top leaders of the CPM and the CPI separately on Monday as part of the moves to resolve the crisis triggered by the Left parties’ demand that the government should not operationalise the deal. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart AB Bardhan held talks with Mr Mukherjee, who was assisted by defence minister AK Antony and Ahmed Patel.
While there was no word from the Congress side, both the Left leaders insisted that the proposed mechanism — to go into issues arising out of the provisions in the Hyde Act in the US and the 123 Agreement recently entered into between the two countries — should be at the political level involving leaders from both sides.
However, Mr Bardhan and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury maintained that they stuck to their opposition to the implementation of the deal, which they said should not be operationalised. The CPI veteran also said that the government too stuck to its position on the deal. After the meeting, Mr Yechury said that “the talks (between Left and the government) will continue for the next two to three days and by the end of the month, we think that we will be able to announce something concrete”.
Mr Yechury said they have “reiterated to the government the position of the CPM central committee, politburo and the Left parties” during the first round of discussions on Monday. The Left parties have already expressed their willingness to consider any mechanism to look into their concerns, but had made it clear that the government should not proceed with operationalising the nuclear deal. There was also no word from the government on Monday on the Left’s demand that the deal should not be operationalised.
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Asked whether they got any assurance from the government that the deal will not be operationalised, Mr Yechury said: “I won’t be able to say everything because discussions are on and will continue for the next two days. They have to consult with their allies and we also have to talk to other Left parties. That is why I am saying things will be clear in the next two days.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Bardhan said “we have discussed all the questions” and it was decided that a mechanism should be worked out to deal with the crisis-like situation. The government is expected to hold separate discussions with other Left parties — the Forward Bloc and the RSP — in the next two days.
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