Oppose Bush call for regime change in Iran: Left

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) The Left parties today asked the UPA government to oppose US President George W Bush's ''call for a regime change in Iran'' and criticised what they called was its shifting stand on Tehran's nuclear programme.

The Left parties also sought the Centre's urgent intervention for release of 85 innocent POTA detenues in Gujarat in the wake of the inquiry report on the Godhra train fire and demanded that action be taken against those guilty of the genocide in the aftermath of the February 2001 incident -- whether it be Chief Minister Narendra Modi or the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The two issues had figured prominently during today's proceedings in Parliament, with the Prime Minister stating India's position on the Iran's nuclear programme during his reply to the debate in both Houses, while the Godhra issue rocked the Lok Sabha forcing its adjournment for the day.

Leaders of the CPI(M), CPI and RSP also berated the government for what they termed was the attempt to keep Parliament and the people in the dark about its ''shifting'' stand on the Iran issue.

CPI(M) floor leaders in Parliament Nilotpal Basu and Rupchand Pal said at a press conference inside Parliament complex that the government should ''come clean'' on both the issues on the floor of the House.

Meanwhile the CPI general secretary A B Bardhan told UNI that the PM had left many a thing unexplained in his reply.

RSP leader Abani Roy alleged that Dr Singh himself appeared to be in a dilemma over the issue.

The CPI(M) leaders also demanded that the government contradict Mr Bush's calls for a change of regime in Iran. ''Even the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had said that over 75 million dollars would be earmarked for a change of regime in Iran.'' While the whole world was talking about the nitty gritty of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and the overall growth in bilateral relations, only the Indian Parliament had yet to get an authentic document concerning this, the CPI(M) leaders said.

Mr Bardhan said, ''The very need for a nuclear deal with the US has not been explained. Similarly, there is a visible change in the government's position since French President (Jacques) Chirac's visit to India.

''At time the PM had said only the (nuclear) reactors built with international cooperation will be under the safeguards. Now the reactors built with indigenous technology has also been put under safeguards,'' Mr Bardhan added.

CPI national secretary Shamim Faizi said the Prime Minister talked about civilisational relations with Iran, while the US President used ''our soil'' to attack Iran and other countries he has targetted.

''I consider this a clear violation of the sovereignty of Indian nation. Our government must protest and contradict the assertion of Mr Bush,'' Mr Faizi added.

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