Let's miss the nuclear bus, Left to govt

Ahead of the first meeting of the United Progressive Alliance-Left committee to sort out differences on the nuclear deal with the US, Left parties on Monday toughened their stance saying nobody can convince them that the Hyde Act will have "no role or effect" on the bilateral agreement.

The supporting parties bluntly rejected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's suggestion that India should not miss the bus of nuclear renaissance as they insisted that "the destination of the bus will be the stranglehold of the United States."

"There is a committee set up between the UPA leaders and Left leaders. Yes, we will try to put our point of view across, try to make them understand what are our objections, not only ours, but of a wide spectrum of public opinion ranging from scientists and those who are concerned about foreign policy, concerned about our strategic autonomy, energy security.

"All these issues we will discuss. But nobody will be able to convince us that the Hyde Act has no role, no effect on this bilateral agreeement. I know they will put very eminent lawyers from their side. But this is not a matter to be argued in a court of law," Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat said in Delhi.

Significantly, Karat's strongly-worded statement came at a convention where leaders of United National Progressive Alliance constituents Telugu Desam Party and Samajwadi Party were also present.