‘UPA pushing US agenda’

As the stalemate on the India-US nuclear deal continued on Saturday, the CPI(M) accused the UPA government of furthering American interests at a time when inflation has crossed the 11 per cent mark.

As the stalemate on the India-US nuclear deal continued on Saturday, the CPI(M) accused the UPA government of furthering American interests at a time when inflation has crossed the 11 per cent mark.

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The CPI(M) leadership that has led the Left bloc’s tirade against the nuclear deal, said it is “nothing but a cover to promote the strategic ties with the US”. The party also accused the government of “dragging its feet” on the Iran gas pipeline project “at the behest of the US and in consideration of the Hyde Act”.

Meanwhile, Left leaders continued talks with UPA allies. In New Delhi, NCP spokesperson D.P. Tripathi called on CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and CPI National Secretary D. Raja spoke with DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on the Left’s position on the deal. Raja and Karat are slated to travel to Chennai on Sunday.

“Mythical energy claims are being made in order to promote a bad nuclear deal.
Energy is just a cover. The real intent is India-US strategic ties,” the CPI(M) Central Committee said in a statement.

CC member Nilotpal Basu took a dig at Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, a keen advocate of the deal. “The government is linking nuclear energy with the oil crisis. We do not know if the government has any technology to put uranium directly into the fuel tanks of buses and cars. We might lack in technological knowledge as compared to the Science and Technology Minister,” he said.

Asked to elaborate on why the CPI(M) thought American interests are being pushed, Basu said: “I think the people of the country can draw their own conclusions. Obviously, there are some political interests at play to gain from the strategic alliance with the US.”