CPI-M to continue to oppose Indo-US nuclear deal

New Delhi, Dec 22: The CPI(M) today made it clear in no uncertain terms that it will continue to oppose the Indo-US nuclear cooperation deal, whatever may be the consequences.

''The party Central Committee has also endorsed this view that there is no change in the party stand on the nuclear pact,'' said Mr M K Pandhe, senior party leader and the party polit bureau member. Talking to newspersons at the end of the 85-member CC deliberations, Mr Pandhe said the party will continue to oppose the deal whatever might happen or whatever the consequence may be.

When asked about the party strategy for the next general election, Mr Pandhe said it was premature to talk about that at this stage. ''As many as 15 months are still left for next general elections.'' Earlier, Mr Pandhe told the sources that the party found the performance of the UPA government ''very bad.'' Elaborating, he said the very objective of the Left parties giving outside support to the Congress-led coalition has not been achieved. ''The Congress slogan of 'Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath' has proved a hoax.

It has helped only the super-rich by giving subsidies in the name of SEZ and the exporters and it has not implemented the common minimum programme, the policy document.'' To another question on France's offer to go in for nuclear cooperation with India, he said nothing can be done until the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal has been clinched.

The two-and-a half- day Central Committee meeting preceded by the morning session of the polit bureau on December 20 at the party headquarters A K Gopalan Bhawan ended today. It was attended by Party General Secretary Prakash Karat, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, among others.

UNI