V P Singh supports Left on nuclear issue
V P Singh says India has to find a new PM if the government refuses to renegotiate the agreement.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Supporting the Left parties on their opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, former prime minister V P Singh on Sunday said the country has to find a new prime minister if the government refuses to renegotiate the agreement.
Singh said the Left parties have "valid" reasons for opposing the deal and everyone should see to it that the agreement does not go through.
"If Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) cannot renegotiate the deal, terminate it. If he cannot do that, we have to find a new prime minister then," he told reporters here.
Continuing his attack on the government for entering into an agreement by "not addressing" the nation's concerns, Singh said the Prime Minister should muster the courage to tell the US that India cannot go ahead as there was widespread opposition and concern about the deal.
"Whom does the Prime Minister represent. Does he represent the sentiments of people of the country or someone else's," he said.
"The Left is absolutely right in opposing the nuclear deal. The government has to heed the valid reasons forwarded by them," he added.
Asked whether the Left would be justified if they withdraw support to the UPA, the former prime minister said that "the issue is whether to save the government or save the nation".
He said there is enough time to get out of the deal and "if the government does not do that, it is a patriotic duty to see that deal does not go through".
Singh said the Left parties have "valid" reasons for opposing the deal and everyone should see to it that the agreement does not go through.
"If Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) cannot renegotiate the deal, terminate it. If he cannot do that, we have to find a new prime minister then," he told reporters here.
Continuing his attack on the government for entering into an agreement by "not addressing" the nation's concerns, Singh said the Prime Minister should muster the courage to tell the US that India cannot go ahead as there was widespread opposition and concern about the deal.
"Whom does the Prime Minister represent. Does he represent the sentiments of people of the country or someone else's," he said.
"The Left is absolutely right in opposing the nuclear deal. The government has to heed the valid reasons forwarded by them," he added.
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Asked whether the Left would be justified if they withdraw support to the UPA, the former prime minister said that "the issue is whether to save the government or save the nation".
He said there is enough time to get out of the deal and "if the government does not do that, it is a patriotic duty to see that deal does not go through".
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