Cong legislator embarrasses Left on opposition to nuke deal

Chennai, Apr 3 (UNI) A Congress Legislator today embarrassed Left parties by having a dig at them for their opposition to the Indo-US nuke deal and appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to ensure that the deal was through.

Speaking on the demand for grants for energy department, Dr M K Vishnu Prasad (Congress), questioned the Left parties' opposition to the nuke deal, which he said would benefit only India in various aspects.

The deal would help India gain more global recognition and would have access to US technology and pave way for technology transfer, he said and stressed that the deal was very much important from India's point of view.

Criticising the Left parties for opposing the deal, he wondered why they (the Left parties) were ''allergic'' to US, which agreeing to the pact signed between US and China, which was being ruled by the Communists.

''Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should reign in the Left parties and ensure that the deal becomes operational'', he added.

It may be recalled that the Left parties were a constituent of the DMK-led DPA in the state and also a key constituent of the Congress led UPA at the Centre.

Intervening, CPI Floor leader V Sivapunniyam said they were not opposing the deal outright, but were taking objections to the conditions imposed by US as it endangers India's self-reliance and sovereignty.

Ms Padmavathy (CPI) charged that Russia had not imposed any condition while agreeing to support the Koodankulam project. But US had imposed some conditions in the nuke deal, which would affect country sovereignty.

Mr John Joseph (CPI-M) said they were opposing the deal as US had imposed certain conditions on India, which it had not done while inking the pact with China.

''These conditions endangers India's self-reliance and sovereignty'', he added.

UNI GV VV KK RN1545