N-deal must resolve by Dec: Karat

New Delhi, Dec 9: CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat has issued an ultimatum to the UPA government to end negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Indo-US nuclear deal by the end of December or face Lok Sabha elections.

Dismissing suggestions that the Left had softened its stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Karat categorically said "We didn't want the government to fall, especially before the Gujarat elections,'' media reported.

Addressing a meeting of the Delhi State CPI(M) here on Dec 8, Mr Karat said he had told the UPA that the Gujarat elections are coming up and ''if they (UPA) aren't worried about the elections, we are.

We don't want the BJP to succeed in garnering votes in Gujarat, " he added.

The CPI(M) General Secretary was quoted as saying by Times Now that if the UPA did not end talks with the IAEA, the Left would call off its own talks with the UPA and withdraw support.

Mr Karat set a definite deadline on withdrawing support over the controversial Indo-US nuke deal by saying,"If the government speaks with the IAEA, we will stall talks with the UPA. This issue must be resolved by the end of December. If the UPA pursue talks with the IAEA, then we will have to ready ourselves for Lok Sabha elections."

UNI