CLP ridicules Left's stance on nuclear deal

Hyderabad, Jul 15 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today ridiculed the Left parties for ''joining hands'' with the BJP to ''vote out'' the UPA when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeks a trust vote in Parliament on July 22.

Addressing a press conference along with Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, Finance Minister K Rosaiah said it was surprising that the Left parties, which had termed the BJP as ''a communal party,'' had joined hands with it. The Left parties had stated that they were extending issue-based support to the UPA Government from outside as they wanted the ''communal forces'' to remain out of power, he added.

Stating that the nuclear deal was very important to meet the future energy needs in view of depleting natural resources like coal and gas in the country, Mr Rosaiah said he did not understand why the Left parties, which were inspired by Soviet Russia and China, were opposing the deal while China was a signatory to the deal and Russia was insisting India to go ahead with it.

He took strong objection to the remarks of TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu that the ''rate'' of Parliamentarians had increased in view of the trust vote on July 22.

Stating that Mr Naidu's remarks amounted to ''disrespecting'' the MPs, Mr Rosaiah demanded an apology from him for his ''undemocratic'' remarks.

Reffering to Mr Naidu's promises made during his 'meekosam' tour, he alleged that the former Chief Minister was making ''unimaginable'' promises to the people, keeping an eye on the coming elections.

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