Middle-of-the-road proposition to end n-deadlock absured: Left

New Delhi, Jun 19 (UNI) The Left parties today ruled out as an ''absurd proposition''the possibility of a middle-of-the road solution to end the deadlock over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal with the UPA government and reiterated their firm opposition to the pact.

The top leaders of the CPI, CPM and Forward Bloc told UNI that the possible way out by delinking of IAEA and NSG talks from the 123 agreement is ''just impossible'' as the whole exercise of negotiations with the international agency is to operationalise the 123 agreement.

Reacting to media reports that the government could persuade the Left parties to veer round to a middle-of-the-road solution-- delinking of the IAEA and NSG talks with the 123 agreement and delinking the international agency from the 123 agreement with the US, they said it could not be possible.

On Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad's defending the deal today , the Left leaders claim that this was not so.

Talking to reporters, Mr Yadav made a case for the agreement as an imperative necessity to meet the energy requirements of the country.

CPM politbureau member Sitaram Yechury also met Mr Prasad and discussed the emerging political scenario arising out of the deadlock over the deal.

While CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan pointed out that the government was now left with no other option than to give up the idea to go to Vienna to talk to the Board of Directors of the nuclear watchdog to carry forward the deal, his colleague in the party Gurudas Dasgupta said ''the sense of the house'' has already spoken against the deal.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's insistance on executing the deal, the CPI leaders said the government is under heavy pressure from the US on the issue.

CPM senior leader Rup Chand Pal, reacting to media reports suggesting a middle-of-the-road solution, said ''the whole proposition is absurd because without the concurrence and the deal with the US, no dealing can take place with Russia or Australia.'' Besides, Mr Pal said the timeline for the deal does not permit for the execution of the deal. He said, firstly the US presidential election has to take place in November and the President has to take oath on January 23 and at least 99 days are required for the scrutiny of the bill in the US Senate.

For a lameduck president it is absolutely a meaningless exercise. According to the probable US Presidential candidates, they have a different thinking on the deal from Mr George Bush.

On Dr Manmohan Singh's adamant position on the deal, the CPM leader said ''he has taken it as a matter of personal prestige, this is why he is pursuing it so vigorously.'' On the possible political scenario arising out of the deadlock, Mr Pal said it now depends entirely on the government.'' The ball is in its court.'' Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan went to the extent of saying that the mood in the Left parties is that they are prepared to take the final step of withdrawing the support to the government if it went ahead with the deal.

On middle-of-the-road solution, Mr Devrajan endorsed Mr Pal's argument that the Indian officials started negotiations with the IAEA only to pave way for operationalising the 123 agreement.

''Therefore the Left parties will not agree to the negotiations with the IAEA with the current format,'' he said adding that if the government needs any safeguards ''with IAEA for importing uranium from Russia and Australia in future, the issue could be discussed at that time.'' UNI KSA ARB RP RK1813