Govt thrashing out talks mechanism

The Govt is trying to remove the last minute glitches in setting up a mechanism to go into the Left's objections about the N-deal with regards to the influence of Hyde Act on foreign policy, reports Saroj Nagi.

The government is trying to remove the last minute glitches in setting up a mechanism to go into the Left's objections about the Indo-US nuclear deal with regard to the implications of the US' Hyde Act on India's foreign policy.

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A political committee of UPA and Left leaders was to be announced by Monday. But sources said it is likely to take another day, if not two, to put it together. Sources said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the government's pointsman for working out a talks-mechanism with the Left parties, spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who have to take the final call on the UPA's representation on the panel.

The Left leaders on the panel are expected to include Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury (CPM), A B Bardhan, D Raja (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (Forward Bloc) and T J Chandrachuran (RSP).

There is no word from the UPA camp about their representatives on the panel that is likely to be headed by Mukherjee. Among the names speculated are those of AK Antony and Ahmed Patel, who were involved in the talks with the Left. From the allies, representatives from the NCP, the RJD and the DMK may find a place on the panel.