Left parties to set up mechanism on N-deal

New Delhi, Aug 31: Undeterred by media interpretation of the setting up of the UPA-Left Committee to go into the Indo-US nuclear deal as an '' interim truce'', the Left parties today hailed the Indian democratic system which they said had enabled them to force the ruling coalition to discuss the issue in Parliament and among the people.

In separate interviews to sources, top Left leaders who are also members of the panel, refused to be drawn into any controversy over the ''open ended'' joint statement, the ''half way'' meeting of the Left's demand for a written assurance on halting the Pact and the impact of freezing it for too long on the Prime Minister's authority among other things.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and Forward Bloc General Secretary Debvrat Biswas were unanimous in their views on the setting up of the panel while having a dig at the BJP for its rejection of the Committee saying, ''hamare angne mein tumara kya kaam hai'' (what business do you have in our courtyard).

Mr Bardhan said the UPA acceptance of the Left's point that their objections were of a serious nature and have to be addressed by the Committee, said everything.

He added that the joint statement also left no one in doubt when it categorically stated that, ''the operationalisation of the deal will take into account the committee's findings.'' '' This is simply a vindication of the Left's viewpoint and also assures that the government will not take the next step on the deal'' Mr Bardhan said.

He also reiterated that the Left never wanted to precipitate the matter and force a snap poll on the country. '' The interpretations being made by a section of the ruling coalition and the media are entirely misplaced. They must shun the habit of blaming the Left and indulging in speculative adventure,'' he said.

Party Polit bureau member and parliamentary group leader Mr Yechury who along with government negotiator Pranab Mukherjee played a pivotal role in resolving the crisis that threatened the 38-month old Manmohan Singh Government, said, ''the Left will have ample opportunity to explain to the people the dangers involved in India having a strategic alliance with the US.'' Mr Yechury said the Left parties would go ahead with their nationwide awareness campaign on the issue.

Mr Biswas said this was the first time in the country's history that the Left intervention had brought an international agreement to the public domain and Parliament.

'' The deal, cleared by the government and bureaucrats supported by the US lobby, would have been through but for the intervention of the Left,'' said the Forward Bloc leader.

''This is a turning point in our democratic system,'' he added.

The Left leaders also came down heavily on the BJP for speaking '' in different voices'', making a special reference to Leader of the Opposition L K Advani who had done several ''U-turns'' during the three-week crisis.

'' What does Mr Advani or the BJP has to do with an issue which is between the UPA and the Left parties, without whose support the government cannot survive,'' Mr Bardhan added.

UNI