Left says not isolated on N-issue, accuses govt of deceit

New Delhi, Jul 2 (UNI) The Left parties today claimed they were not isolated on the political scenario, as being projected, saying they have stuck to their proclaimed position on the nuclear deal issue while the Manmohan Singh government has taken to deceit and maneuvering to fulfil its commitment to the Bush administration.

They disagreed with those who believed that the Congress has succeeded in effective realignment of political forces and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has come out stronger by compelling his party and the allies to desert the Left parties.

CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi said, ''We are not isolated. The sense of the House obtained in December was against the deal and there is no visible change in the position of any of the political formation that opposed the deal.'' They said the UNPA has to take the final call tomorrow. If it decides to stick to its December position, then the government would be in minority on the nuclear deal issue, the leaders added.

''Dr Singh will have to decide whether to risk the country's sovereignty, independece, foreign policy and energy security,'' Mr Bardhan and Mr Faizi said.

When the Prime Minister has not got the mandate of Parliament, it would be better for him to ascertain views of the country in both the Houses before proceeding for operationalising the deal, the CPI leaders added.

CPI(M) senior leader Nilotpal Basu said, ''If you think that by sticking to one position means isolation, then be it so. The Manmohan Singh government has decided to go ahead with the talks with the IAEA and the NSG by contravening the agreement with the Left parties.'' ''One cannot say the Congress has outsmarted us this way. It is plain deceit,'' he said.

The Marxist leader said such deceit was not acceptable to anybody who believed in modicum of political ethics.

He said it was becoming apparently clear that the claim of the government that it was not a ''one-issue government'', was only a cover for manipulating a majority.

''This becomes even more clear from the records of parliamentary proceedings,'' the leader added.

Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devarajan, endorsing the CPI and CPI (M) leaders' contention, asked, ''People have by now understood the ideological position of the Left parties, so where is the question of our isolation?'' He said the Left parties have taken a position in the larger national interest.

''We are least bothered to come to the rescue of the Congress. We will not compromise on the nuclear issue as it has been debated twice in both Houses of Parlaiment,'' he said.

UNI KSA SKB AS1534