Left wants political committee to look into nuke deal issue

The Left parties today demanded a purely political committee to review the implementation of the US Hyde Act on the bilateral 123-Agreement pertaining to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

New Delhi, Aug 28 : The Left parties today demanded a purely political committee to review the implementation of the US Hyde Act on the bilateral 123-Agreement pertaining to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Softening its stand, the Left parties had agreed on Monday to join a government panel to study the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and address the concerns of Left parties.

A panel of politicians, diplomats and scientists had been suggested to resolve the doubts of the Left over the deal, but there was no agreement on it until Monday's announcement, which opened the door for a compromise.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday held a wide range of consultations with the Left leaders, beginning with CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury separately.

In latest developments, the CPI has agreed to a government panel to study the controversial deal, but it should be a political panel.

"In our meeting with the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and others, it has been made clear from our side if a committee is set up that must be a political committee and that committee can call any scientist, any expert at any time to seek their opinion," said D. Raja, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Meanwhile, senior leaders of All India's Forward Block and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) met Mukherjee.

All India Forward Block General Secretary Debabrata Biswas echoed CPI's demands saying the only solution would be a political approach to the issue.

"Through the 123 Agreement and the Hyde Act, they (U.S.A) are binding us in their foreign policies. So this should be cleared politically. And for that we must constitute a political committee and that political committee will take the opinion of experts and scientists and others... they can. But politically we are to settle this matter," he told reporters.

However, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Abani Roy said his party is totally opposed to the deal and any mechanism would be futile.

"We feel that when we have already opposed this (nuclear deal), then, what is the use of meeting and discussing the mechanism," Roy said.

The Left have slammed the deal saying it compromises India's sovereignty and imposes American hegemony.

They have warned the government of "serious consequences" if it did not stop pursuing key global approvals for the deal.

ANI