Left to raise Indo-US N-deal in Parliament

New Delhi, Aug 9: Left parties, which shore up the government from the outside, and have rejected the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation deal, have said they would press for a discussion in Parliament when it reconvenes for the Monsoon Session on Friday.

"That is the prerogative of the ruling party. But, we want a discussion, which ever rule under which it will be admitted," Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said after a meeting of the ruling alliance and the four left parties on Wednesday evening.

The Left parties on Tuesday had rejected the deal, saying that they are "unable to accept the agreement," and demanded a review of the strategic aspect of Indo-US relations in Parliament.

The four Left parties decided to ask the government not to proceed with operationalising the agreement.

The four-party alliance, comprising of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), decided to press for a Constitutional amendment for bringing international treaties and certain bilateral agreements for approval in Parliament.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has already rejected the 123 Agreement, and demanded setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine it, besides a parliamentary approval before the deal is signed.

The Third Front or the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) has also opposed the 123 pact and has convened a meeting here on Thursday to formulate its strategy.

India and the US on August 3 simultaneously released the text of 123 Agreement, which will allow India access to the American nuclear fuel and technology, including the international fuel market, for its growing energy needs.

ANI>