CPI(M) awaiting ''positive'' response on mechanism

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Throwing broad hints that the Congress leadership has agreed to set up a mechanism to evaluate the implications of the US' Hyde Act, the CPI(M) today said it was awaiting a ''positive reponse'' on the subject.

''But any committee or mechanism can not deliver without freezing the Indo-US deal, which can affect our economic, political and strategic sovereignty and independent foreign policy,'' party Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said at a press conference in the precincts of Parliament.

Though he declined to divulge the exact timing for the setting up of the mechanism, party sources disclosed that the process would be set in motion when the Congress president Sonia Gandhi returns from her South Africa tour.

Mr Yechury, flanked by party floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia, however, said that the mechanism would be given a formal shape only after discussions within the Congress and then with the UPA allies.

Answering a wide range of questions relating to the deal, the CPI(M) leader stressed that the nuclear issue ''should not hijack other burning and pressing issues like that of price rise of essential commodities, the implementation of the Srikrishna report on Mumbai riots, the Sachar Committee report on the status of Muslims and introduction of legislation to provide social security to workers in the unorganised sector.'' Mr Yechury, who is playing the role of interlocutor between the government and the Left to ease the stand-off on the nuke deal, said the Left wanted a ''structured debate in the house wherein all political parties speak out their mind on it and there is a proper reply from the treasury side.'' ''It is for the government to decide on the date keeping in view the availability of the Prime Minister, and the Minister concerned,'' he said.

Replying to a specific question whether the CPI(M) is really serious on the issue as it seemed to be softening its stand on the pact, Mr Yechury asserted that the Communist parties ''do not change their agenda every hour.'' ''There is no question of delaying the matter or buying time on the issue,'' he noted, adding that they followed their own pace and kept in mind parliamentary procedures and norms while finalising the timing of the debate. ''The political parties have to consulted by the Speaker also.'' Referring to the ''media hype'' over the UPA-Left chasm, he wanted to know where was the crisis and where it was now. ''We have, from the very beginning, stuck to our position that the government must not operationalise the pact until all apprehensions and doubts are clarified in view of the widespread opposition, including that of a majority in Parliament to it.'' Mr Yechury also contended that it was not the Left ''but the government which was weakening the country's strategic programme.'' ''It is a baseless allegation that the Left is acting on the askance of China in this regard,'' he asserted.

He also denied that the Left was playing upon the ''minority vote'' factor by resisting the Indo-US deal. ''It is essentially a question of our independent foreign policy.'' he noted.

UNI