CPI takes Govt to task on Saddam hanging

New Delhi, Jan 5: The CPI today came down heavily on the Manmohan Singh government's 'soft approach' on the Saddam Hussein hanging and demanded that it not proceed with the Indo-US deal before taking the nation into confidence prior to signing the 123 Agreement.

''In two separate resolutions, the party while criticising the UPA government for its' soft statement' on execution of former Iraq President Saddam Hussein demanded that the government not proceed with the Indo-US nuke deal,'' CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan told UNI on phone from Kolkata where the party's 125-member National Council is in session.

Mr Bardhan said the party had adopted a resolution criticising the statement of the Ministry of External Affairs on the execution of Saddam Hussain on the plea that it simply did not match the popular condemnation in the country and the world as a whole.

The CPI's resolution on the Indo US deal comes close on the heels of the CPI(M)'s decsion to go in for a countrywide campaign against the dangers inherent in the Indo-US nuclear agreement. Incidentally, the CPI(M)'s day-long Polit Bureau and three-day Central Committee deliberations concluded in Kolkata yesterday.

CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said the party NC Meet which is to conclude tomorrow, is continuing discussions on the political developments since July when it met in Hyderabad.

''The issue of Singur in particular and the land acquisition in general generated heat in the NC meeting as most of the participants felt that humanitarian aspect and transparency should be the hall mark of the industrialisation policy,'' Mr Faizi, the editor of Party Weekly 'New Age' said.

The party NC members adopted a comprehensive statement on industrialisation, land acquisition and SEZs, the CPI leaders said.

The Left party also adopted a resolution on the need for a comprehensive legislation for 370 million unorganised workers and agricultural labourers.

UNI