CPI(M) meets to discuss Indo-US N-deal

New Delhi, Aug 22: The two-day emergency meeting of the CPI(M) Central Committee began deliberations today to endorse the Polit Bureau decision against the Indo-US nuclear deal, and urge the government to take note of the emerging political situation in its own interest.

The 80-plus committee members gathered at the party headquartres here to discuss the government's response to the Left parties' objections and reservations on the nuclear deal and their future strategy.

The emergency meeting of the Comittee, the party's highest decision-making body, assumes special significance in the wake of the increasing UPA-Left chasm over the deal, with the Left warning the government that it should refrain from taking the ''next step'' of holding negotiations with the IAEA on September 14.

Prominent members Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, Basudeb Acharia, Nilotpal Basu, W R Vardharajan, Rup Chand Pal, are among others who are participating in the deliberations.

The committee meets every three months to take stock of the social, economic and political situation in the country.

Just before the start of the meeting, preponed by a month this time to discuss the urgent issue, party senior leader M K Pandhe told UNI