UPA govt may collapse before Dussehra: Forward Bloc

Lucknow, Sep 14 (UNI) Forward Bloc, a Left Front constituent supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, today said there was ''no meeting point'' on the nuclear deal issue and the government might collapse before Dussehra.

''There is no meeting point between the Left and the UPA on the nuclear deal issue as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already bowed to the pressure of the United States,'' claimed Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas.

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Biswas claimed that although a 15-member committee had been constituted to sort out the differences, Dr Singh's altims show that the PM seems the government is in hurry to complete the deal.

''We are prepared for early elections as the government has repeatedly hinted they had reached the point of no return on the deal,'' he said, adding that the Left was ready for any eventuality and there was a possibility of a showdown with the UPA government by Dussehra, next month.

He said the Left Front had sent its first note on the nuclear deal to the committee today, raising several objections to the 123 Agreement and Hyde Act.

The committee is expected to send back its reply to the Left Front leaders by September 17.

Under the objections raised by the Left, it has been claimed that the Hyde Act is connected with the 123 Agreement, while there is no specific assurance for continuation of uninteruppted fuel supply in case of snapping of the agreement.

The claim of the government that the embargo against the country would be lifted by due USA after the deal was also not true and the centre should clarify if there are no other resources available for generating power in the country except for nuclear option, he said.

''We have drawn a 'Laxmanrekha' before the UPA government by asking them not to proceed on any discussion with International Atomic Eenery Agency (IAEA) and if they go against it, then they are to be blamed,'' Mr Biswas said.

He also charged due Prime Minster with making a''false'' statement in Parliament on the nuclear deal.

UNI