(Rpt, correcting name in para 1, line 2)

New Delhi, Feb 2 (UNI) The Left parties today asked the UPA government to clinch the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project and not to give in to reported US pressure.

They also urged the government not to proceed with the proposed resumption of talks on 123 pact as ''certain clauses in the law passed by the US Congress are not in the interest of India.'' US Ambassador to India David Mulford said yesterday the US would watch with" interest" External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's forthcoming visit to Iran for "any violation" of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 while India and the US are poised to resume talks on 123 Pact in Washington.

Talking to UNI on phone from the campaign trail in Bhatinda, CPI leader A B Bardhan said, "As far as Iran visit is concerned, Mr Mukherjee should rectify the mistake the UPA government committed twice by voting against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency under pressure from the US." Mr Bardhan said," our national interest demanded that we should clinch the gas pipeline project agreement and finalise the deal." Besides, CPI leader Shamim Faizi said, ''he should keep in mind that Iran is a neighbouring country, an Asian country and a developing economy- the three factors which make it our natural ally.'' "The people of India are capable of protecting their interest for which they don't need interference of the US. No imperialist power can be allowed to interfere in our national affairs," Mr Faizi, the editor of the party Weekly 'New Age' said.

CPI(M) senior leader and Polit bureau member M K Pandhe said the US had no ''right to dictate to India, a sovereign country, with whom it should develop friendly relations." India, Mr Pandhe, said should go ahead with finalising a deal on the gas project as "we are in need of gas and oil." Forward Bloc national Secretary G Devrajan said the Manmohan Singh government must draw the right lesson from the experince on how the US forced India to sign the declaration against Iran in the UN assembly.

Mr Devrajan said despite the Left cautioning the Government against the designs of the US to 'interfere and influence' India's foreign policy, the government chose to toe the US line and the result of it was there for every one to see.

On the resumption of talks on 123 Agreement, Mr Bardhan and Mr Faizi said the government should not proceed with the 123 agreement until the anti-India clauses in the law passed in the US Congress are deleted.

"There is no basis for the 123 agreement keeping in view the assurances given twice by the Prime Minister in Parliament." Mr Pandhe said it was unfortunate that the government did not seem to be pursuing a right course on the issue. "There are certain clauses in the law which are not helpful to our nation." UNI KSA RP HS1652