Left leaders meet Manmohan Singh over Indo-US nuclear deal

Left leaders, whose outside support is crucial for the survival of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh-led Government, met Singh this morning and discussed issues related to the US-India nuclear agreement.

New Delhi, Aug 14 : Left leaders, whose outside support is crucial for the survival of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh-led Government, met Singh this morning and discussed issues related to the US-India nuclear agreement.

After the breakfast meeting between Dr. Singh and CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, karat reiterated that his party would not backtrack from its opposition to the deal.The meeting was held a day after Dr. Singh told Parliament that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal would not impinge on the country's sovereignty, or its right to future nuclear tests in any way.

Dr. Singh's meeting with Karat was followed by another meeting between the Prime Minister and CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan. The Government is expected to issue a formal statement shortly.

Dr. Singh has assured the Left leaders that the deal would not affect the country's sovereignty.

With the Left leaders already toning down their opposition and making it clear to the Prime Minister that the "integrity of the government had never been in question," they still have stuck to their demand for a debate in the House under Rule 193 that does not entail voting.

The BJP has called for a debate on the issue under Rule 184, which entails voting.

The Left leaders have already warned the government that it may have to pay a "heavy price" if it went ahead with the nuclear deal with the US

Anguished by Left's consistent criticisms against the deal, Prime Minister Singh on Thursday told the Left parties "to do whatever they want to do."

"If they (Left) want to withdraw support, so be it..." Dr. Singh told a Kolkata based daily in an interview.

ANI