Scores of Left party activists on Saturday staged a demonstration in New Delhi as they observed a 'Black Day' to protest the United Progressive Alliance government's moving ahead with the India-United States nuclear deal.
Led by senior Communist Party of India - Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and Communist Party of India leader D Raja, the activists marched towards the Hyderabad House where External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were scheduled to hold discussions but were prevented from reaching the venue.
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Addressing the protestors, Yechury said the agitation was the last warning to the UPA government not to go ahead with the deal, which was detrimental to the sovereignty of the country and its independent foreign policy.
"We have heard that US President George W Bush has not signed the deal. It will be good for this country, if he does not sign the deal," he said.
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The Left parties' protest also saw the participation of Telugu Desam Party Member of Parliament Mysoora Reddy and Forward Bloc Secretary G Deverajan. Yechury said the agreement includes all retrogade provisions of the Hyde Act, which puts further constraints on full civilian nuclear cooperation.
"There is no uninterrupted fuel supply assurance, no provision for strategic fuel reserve, no transfer of nuclear technology and steps to be taken against Iran," Left party leaders said.
The leaders said that any self-respecting government would have refused to sign the deal and operationalise it.