Nuke deal: CPI (ML) to hold nation-wide protest

Kozhikode, Aug 25: Accusing the Left parties of `going soft' on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(ML) Friday said it would launch a nationwide agitation Saturday, including a Parliament march, to express its opposition to the deal "as it threatens to harm the nation's interests." "The UPA government, led by Manmohan Singh, does not want to have a detailed debate in Parliament on such a sensitive issue and surprisingly the Left parties are adopting double standards by threatening to withdraw support to the government now and then," CPI(ML) national secretary, K N Ramachandran told reporters here.

Questioning the role played by CPI(M), in particular, he asked why the Communist Party had now preferred to wait till the IAEA General Assembly meeting in Vienna to see if Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Anil Kakodkar discussed the issue. "Urging the government not to proceed further with operationalising the deal is only eyewash as the Left parties are more concerned about their political prospects."

Even the BJP, which used to loudly protest on such matters, had failed to highlight the 123 Agreement issue as required, Ramachandran alleged. Seeking the support of democratic forces, he said the CPI(ML) would hold protest marches across the country today, including a march to the Parliament House. Bureau report