V P Singh asks Left to withdraw support to PM

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh today called upon the Left Parties to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh government on the issue of the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement or force him to scrap the deal.

''If you have to act, act now...If the Prime Minister cannot re-negotiate the deal, then he should terminate it. If he cannot do even this, then we will have to find a Prime Minister who will do so...The Left at this critical point has an historic role to play. I am confident it will do so,'' Mr Singh said at a press conference here.

The comments by Mr Singh, who has been critical of the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Agreement, significantly came two days after the Prime Minister dared the Left Parties to withdraw support to his government.

Asked if in the event of withdrawal of support, a snap poll was ordered and the BJP and NDA benefitted, he said ''the Left would benefit as never before''.

It was time to think whether to save the country or the government, or else the government would be emboldened to take more such steps which would not be in national interest.

The former Prime Minister said the matter should be discussed in Parliament under Section 184 which enables a vote. Whatever, the Parliament decided after the vote, should be accepted.

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