Jyoti Basu applauds UPA decision; urges for its full term

Kolkata, Oct 19 (UNI) Hailing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to put a brake on operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today said the Left parties wanted the UPA Government to complete its full term.

''It is a good decision on the part of Dr Manmohan Singh and Ms Sonia Gandhi. We do not want this Government to fall, nor do we want fresh elections,'' he told reporters after attending the CPI(M) state Secretariat meeting.

He said the Congress-led coalition Government was on the verge of being toppled over by bitter differences it had with its Left allies on the issue of the nuke deal.

''However, we hope that there would be no more hurdles for this Government and it would run smoothly,'' he said and added, ''Now that they have accepted our points, the Government will complete the one-and-a-half year that still remains in its full term.'' Mr Basu's comments came in the wake of a formal communication from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to US President George W Bush stating that there were some difficulties regarding operationalisation of the nuke deal.

The Agreement was scheduled to be discussed for India-specific safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) before giving a final shape to the deal, which the Left parties opposed fiercely.

Dr Singh atalked to the US President to apprise him of the development which resulted after weeks of negotiations with the Left allies, who had expressed reservations regarding the deal.

This deal would allow the US to export fissile technology and materials for Indian civilian reactors, removing a 30-year ban.

However, Dr Singh yesterday said that he had not given up hope on an India-United States civilian nuclear deal and that some ways to solve the problem.

''I have maintained that there are some difficulties. We are a coalition. We have to find a way out. I have not given up hope as yet,'' he was quoted as saying to reporters on his way back from a trip to Africa.

UNI