Karunanidhi calls for maintaining UPA-Left unity

Chennai, Jun 23: Dravid Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi on Sunday, June 22 said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties should not put their unity in danger over the Indo-US nuclear deal as it would affect the progress of the nation.

Karunanidhi cautioned Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja and Communist party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Prakash Karat that communal forces would gain an upper hand if unity of two sides was disrupted. Karat said that they had promised Karunanidhi that the Left parties would call a meeting to end the deadlock over the nuclear deal.

He said that they had apprised the DMK chief with Left parties" stand on the UPA government's move to go ahead with negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors on the safeguards agreement.

Now Karunanidhi would take up the issue with the Congress. The two leaders met Karunanidhi to discuss their stand on the nuclear deal at his Chennai residence this evening. Karunanidhi on Saturday, June 21 had volunteered to mediate between the Congress and the Left parties to resolve differences over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Raja said that they would urge the DMK chief to convince the UPA Government not to precipitate in the deal-issue. The UPA allies including the DMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party and Lok Janshakti Party are firmly backing the Government on the nuclear deal.

The pro-deal allies also say that the agreement is in the interest of the country. However, these allies have maintained that the viewpoint of the Left parties must be given due consideration.

In the last few days, the Government has been trying to end the face-off with Left parties over the nuclear deal.

ANI