Non-Left partners of UPA behind nuke deal: Paswan

Kolkata, Sep 18 (UNI) Endorsing the UPA Government's stand on the nuke deal issue, Steel and Chemicals Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said the non-Left partners of the ruling coalition were solidly behind it.

''The Government should run for full five years. If the Left parties withdraw support to the UPA, will they support the NDA,'' he asked at a press conference here.

Mr Paswan said even if the Left parties brought a no confidence against the Government in Parliament, the other allies would also bring a confidence motion.

In reply to a question whether there would be a mid-term poll, Mr Paswan quipped the left should be asked this. ''The CPI(M) itself is a divided house on this issue. While Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is for nuclear power, his party's General Secretary Prakash Karat is against it,'' he claimed.

Replying to a question on the controversy over Sethusamudram issue, the Minister said though there was no proof that Sri Ramchandra had really built the bridge, it was a matter of belief and the Government's stand on the issue was correct.

He said the Steel Ministry had decided to reopen the coke oven plant of IISCO at Kulti, but no date had yet been finalised.

UNI