Nuke deal: Prospects of UPA-Left rapprochement recede

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) With prospects of any rapprochement between the UPA and the Left parties over the nuke deal receding, the country may be heading towards a snap poll, according to top Left sources.

The sources told UNI today the Left parties would give a "suitable reply" to the UPA's latest 14-page note, in response to their 12-page reply, but both sides are not likely to budge from their respective positions at the UPA-Left Political Panel's meet here on October 5.

They insisted that the" irreconcilable" stand of both the sides might push the country towards a snap poll as no meeting point seemed to be in sight at the moment even as the Panel member and CPI leader D Raja asked the government not to proceed with further steps to operatinalise the deal otherwise "the Political Committee will be rendered meaningless." The UPA note has reportedly stated the Hyde Act was cleared by a foreign legislature and would not have any impact on the deal with India. It also reiterated that the Act was an enabling legislation and not an implementation mechanism.

But CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M K Pandhe asserted that it is a law which is very much applicable to the US government." Only on this basis the US administraiton will deal with India," he added.

The CPI(M) senior leader stressed that Left had taken a" very careful and considered stand" on the nuke deal and that there was no question of going back on it.

" We are going to reiterate the same stand during our party deliberations for four days beginning in Kolkata on Friday ," said Mr Pandhe adding that the CPI(M) 17-member Polit Bureau and 85-member Central Committee are meeting to discuss the fast-changing political situation besides the economic and foreign policy matters, the entry of Corporates in the retail sector and legislation for social security for over 370 million unorganised workers among other things.

The CPI has also summoned the three-day special meeting of the party 31-member national Executive and 125-member national Council to discuss the issue.

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