Let new govts in India

Bhubaneswar, Jun 22: CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan on Sunday, June 22 urged the Centre not to sign the Indo-US Nuclear deal in a hurry but wait till the new governments came to power in both countries.

Speaking at the sidelines of a convention, organised here to oppose the proposed Rs 51,000 crore mega steel plant at Paradeep by South Korean steel major POSCO, the CPI leader said the government should not sign the deal in a hurry just because Mr Bush would not be in office. He maintained that the deal was not between the two individuals - Mr Bush and Mr Manmohan Singh - but between the two countries India and the US. Mr Bush and Mr Singh might not be there but the country will, he stated.

The CPI leader said the general elections in the country would be held some time in 2009 if the present UPA-led government completed its full term. Similarly a new President would take over in the USA in January next. '' The deal should be left to the new governments to decide, '' he added.

Mr Bardhan suggested that instead of giving so much of importance to the Nuclear deal, the government should reset its priorities on the economic development and find out ways as how to deal with the rising inflation, which had already crossed 11.5 per cent and hard hit the common people.

'' The government should not sacrifice the priorities for the deal as neither is it good for the country nor for its people, '' Mr Bardhan commented.

He said the Left parties had many rounds of discussions with the government on the Nuke deal issue and also claimed that the discussion had been fruitful so far.

The UPA-led coordination meeting on the Nuclear deal is scheduled to be held at New Delhi on June 25. He hinted that the Left would consider if new proposal was given by the government.

UNI