Left opposition should not be equated with BJP's : Buddhadeb

Kolkata, Jul 17 (UNI) Continuing the crusade against the Indo-US Nuke deal, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the Leftists disapproved the treaty as it would affect the sovereignty of the country, not like the BJP which once advocated the agreement but was now opposing it to ensure the fall of the Government.

Participating in a discussion under 185 Motion in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said neither would the deal ensure nuclear energy nor provide related technologies, and on the contrary it would invite ''one- sided'' US inspection over the nuclear programmes of the country.

'' The BJP-led NDA had initiated the very process of the deal, but now the alliance is protesting it to pave the way for the fall of the UPA Government. Hence the Left's opposition to the treaty should not be equated with the BJP and its allies,'' Mr Bhattacharjee observed.

He said though the Leftists had criticised the principles of the Congress Governments at the Centre after Independence, they had supported the foreign policies on a number of occasions earlier.

'' But the communists have been airing their protests against the deal since July, 2005 when the UPA Government started the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement, '' he maintained.

While the Congress boycotted the discussion, the Trinamool Congress was not present in the House throughout the day.

Staging a walkout from the House, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Manas Bhuniya said by moving 185 Motion to discuss Indo-US nuclear deal, the State Assembly broke all conventions and democratic ethics as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would move a Trust vote on the issue in Parliament on July 22.

'' It is a matter of grave concern that communism and communalism are coming closer today with the nexus between the Leftists and the BJP on the issue, '' Mr Bhuniya remarked.

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