CPI(M) and CPI differ on continuing support to UPA govt

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The CPI(M) and CPI today appeared sharply divided over the question of continuing support to the UPA government in the wake of their widening differences over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told a news channel that the Manmohan Singh government would continue and complete its full five-year term.

''We are in a coalition. There can be differences on ideological and economic issues, which can be resolved through dialogue,'' he added.

In an interview to CNN-IBN, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury indicated that the Left Parties were not ready just yet to withdraw support from the government.

'' Our withdrawing support won't guarantee that the deal will not be operationalised by a future government,'' he said.

''It is not a question of the Left Parties withdrawing their support to the government, but the operationalisation of the accord.

We are telling the Prime Minister that the deal is not in India's interest for A B C D... reasons. These are our concerns and why we feel that the deal is not in India's interest. Do not operationalise it,'' he added.

'' We would want a situtation where the terms of the treaty were different from what they are right now. Our interest lies in the deal, and the interests of India lie on certain terms the deal must contain which it does not have right now,'' he said.

Meanwhile in an interview to TIMES NOW, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said, ''The honeymoon time is over. Now, it is only the question of filing for divorce. Withdrawal of support to the UPA government seems inevitable.'' ''We are discussing whether to vote the government out now or later,'' he said.

''The split with the UPA is only a matter of time. Our support was on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme, but the government deviated from it,'' he said.

The situation could be salvaged only if the government showed a willingness not to operationalise the accord, he added.

UNI