Nuke deal a blot on country's self-respect: Achutanandan

Thiruvananhapuram, Jul 11 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politbureau member V S Acutanandan today said the signing of the nuclear deal was a blow to India's self-respect and it was against the country's interest.

Detailing the resolution passed in the Kerala Assembly today urging the UPA government not to sign the India-US nuclear deal, he told reporters here that the Manmohan Singh government was going ahead with the deal without the support of Parliament and the people.

''Mr Singh has become subservient to the US and its President George Bush,'' he said.

The Prime Minister and the Congress were only trying to scuttle the country's Non Aligned and foreign policy.

It was in the name of fuel deficiency that the UPA strongly demands the nuclear deal, he said and added reports had shown that this agreement would not result in any solution to the energy crisis of the country. Moreover, it could only pave the way for the international agencies to peep into our nuclear installations, and this could have serious consequences for the country.

The Left parties and several nuclear scientists had come forward against the deal as it was against the country's interest.

Mr Achutanandan also urged the people to come forward to oppose the deal.

The Kerala Assembly today passed the resolution urging the UPA Government to withdraw from the India-US nuclear deal.

UNI PN RL HT1515