Left not in favour to force mid-term poll: Bardhan

Patna, Oct 4: The CPI today reiterated that the Left was not in favour of forcing mid-term poll and appealed to the UPA government for reviewing its stand on Indo-US nuclear deal to end the stand-off on this contentious issue. Addressing a function here to mark the 150th anniversary of first freedom struggle of 1857, party general secretary A B Bardhan said the Left was giving ample opportunities to the Centre for a review on Indo-US nuclear deal.

He said the UPA government should utilise it to break the deadlock.

He dismissed the euphoria over availability of energy after operationalisation of the nuclear deal as ''quixotic'' and far from realities.

'' We cannot tolerate the compromise with our Independent foreign policy as the US is now dictating us not to move ahead for gas deal with Iran, '' he said adding the Left had already cautioned the Centre on such issues.

He said the crucial round of discussion between the Left and the Government on Indo-US nuclear deal is slated for tomorrow and on October 14, and a solution to the vexed issue was possible if the Centre moved seriously taking into consideration the point, raised in this regard by the Left.

The Left had taken note of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's statement in the US that the difference over nuclear deal was not a serious matter of concern, Mr Vardhan said and warned the issue should not be taken lightly.

'' Ms Gandhi should also have spelt in her speech about the steps to be taken by the UPA government to end the logjam on the issue, '' he remarked.

UNI