Forward Bloc threatens to withdraw support on Nuke deal

Pathanamthitta, Mar 5 (UNI) Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devarajan today said his party would withdraw support to the UPA Government at the Centre if the civil nuclear deal with the US was operationalised.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Devarajan alleged the statement made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament the Hyde Act would never affect the nuclear deal was quite misleading.

He recalled the explanation of US State Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher 'contradicting' the Minister's stand.

Claiming India would achieve nothing by signing the nuclear accord, he said the US plan was to make India its junior partner.

In the event of signing the nuclear deal, his party would quit the UPA Government notwithstanding the pro-UPA stand of CPI(M) and CPI.

He termed the Budget presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram 'as aimed at cheating the farmers who accounted 65 per cent of the total population.' It also lacked direction, Mr Devarajan added. However, the Forward Bloc welcomed the waiver of agricultural loans.

The Radhakrishnan Committee report stated only 52 per cent of farmers availed loans from banks leaving the rest to depend on private money lenders.

Mr Devarajan accused the LDF Government with leading the State towards grave economic crisis. Leaving the land struggles to the mercy of the court was not befitting of the Leftist Government, he said.

UNI XR CR SY AS2042