Nuclear Deal: Left ready for any eventuality

New Delhi, Aug 21: Denying desisting from their stated position on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left parties today asserted that they were ready for ''any eventuality'' even as they continued their engagement with the Government to break the impasse over the issue.

After holding discussions with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament chamber, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and party Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia said the government could hold informal talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but should not deliberate on the specific protocol.

''We have no objection to the government initiating talks with the IAEA on September 14, but should not discuss India specific safeguards, vital to operationalising the deal,'' Mr Yechury told newspersons.

''If any specific talks were held, the Government may have to face complications,'' he added.

The Left leaders put forward the argument that being a general body member of the Agency, India could attend the meeting, but asserted that no talks regarding the country specific protocol should be initiated.

They claimed that the idea of setting up a committee or mechanism to evaluate the Hyde Act came from the ''ruling leadership'' only.

''We did not raise any such demand. Now the government should come up with its own suggestion.'' Mr Yechury told UNI