'CPM not to pull down UPA over nuke deal issue'

Hyderabad, Aug 11: Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dared the Left to withdraw support to his government, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today made it clear that his party would not pull down the UPA regime at the Centre despite serious reservation over the nuclear deal with the US.

''Our opposition is only to the agreement. Even if the Government fell, the agreement will stand,'' he argued, ruling out his party withdrawing support to the Manmohan Singh Government on the issue.

Under the Constitution, only the executive is empowered to enter into international agreements and Parliament's approval was not needed, he told a press conference here.

''Hence, withdrawal of support would not serve any purpose,'' he added.

The party's support to the Congress-led Government and its opposition to the nuclear deal should not be linked, he said, adding that the Party would not press for voting in Parliament during the debate.

Once the agreement was entered into by the Executive, nothing could be done, he said, recalling that the CPI(M) had stoutly opposed the WTO agreement entered into by the Narasimha Rao Government. However, when the United Front came to power, it could not do anything to change it.

UNI