N-deal disagreement not to affect UPA government: Karat

24 August 2007

Moderating its strident line against India signing the civilian nuclear agreement with the US, the CPI(M) on Thurday said it did not want the "current crisis" over the Indo-US nuclear deal to affect the Manmohan Singh government and that it has not discussed the possibility of elections.

At the conclusion of a crucial two-day meeting of the Central Committee, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the party wanted to allay apprehensions that it was interested in pulling down the government.

There was, however, no dilution of the CPI(M)`s opposition to the nuclear deal. "The Central Committee does not want the current crisis to affect the government. However, this is contingent upon the government not proceeding further with the agreement," a resolution adopted by the meeting said.

"The Central Committee, therefore, authorises the Politburo to take whatever necessary measures to see that the agreement is not operationalised," it said. Addressing a press conference, Karat said "if the government decides to operationalise the agreement, the responsibility for the future of this government lie with the government."

"...Unfortunately we are in such a situation we are again trying to allay any apprehension that we are interested in this government going. We would like ... We don`t want this crisis to affect the government, but it is dependent on how the government acts," he said.

Asked if they were ready for elections now, Karat said they have not discussed elections in the Central Committee meeting.