Shed ''blind opposition'' to nuke deal: Cong to Left

Hyderabad, Aug 22 (UNI) The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh today appealed to the Left to shed ''blind opposition'' to the Indo-US Nuclear Deal in the 'country's interest'.

The protests by Left parties were unwarranted and without proper understanding of the agreement, Pradesh Congress Spokesman N Tulasi Reddy maintained in the wake of CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat's giving few weeks' time to the UPA Government to change its stance on the 123 Agreement with ''imperialist'' US.

Addressing a public meeting in Mudigonda, he wanted to know why Communists opposed the agreement even as 'China inked similar pact with the US.' While per capita consumption of power was 14,000 units in the US, it was only 650 units in India. The country had no option but to tap nuclear energy for power generation as conventional sources such as thermal and hydel power had limitations.

UNI