CPIM repeats warning to withdraw support to UPA

New Delhi, June 29 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat today reiterated his party's warning to withdraw its support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in case the latter went ahead with the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

Addressing a meeting of the 15-member Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM)'s politburo here, Karat called the deal "a harmful agreement" that lacks enough support of the members of the coalition.

Karat asserted the Left would not change its stance on the Nuke deal. He warned that the stubborn attitude of the prime minister to go ahead with the deal would be responsible for the political crisis.

Karat stated that signing the agreement would affect independent foreign policy of the nation and would bind India for 40 years.

It was strange that the government wanted to go ahead with the civil nuke deal when the country was suffering from inflation, Karat said

The meeting was attended by senior leaders, which included the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

CPM's Central Committee had empowered the politburo to take all necessary steps on the deal, which could also include withdrawing support to the UPA government.

The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Samajwadi Party are expected to take a decision on the issue on July 3.

ANI