PM dumped CMP for Bush: CPI-M

New Delhi, Jul 21: Charging the UPA government with not taking the nation into confidence over the nuclear deal, CPI-M leader Mohd Salim on Monday, July 21 alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was giving priority to his commitment to US President George Bush over national interests.

Particiating in the debate in the Lok Sabha on the confidence motion moved by Dr Singh, Mr Salim said the Prime Minister was not only showing ''unneccessary haste'' in pushing through the nuclear deal negotiations, but was excessively ''secretive'' about it. He pointed out that while the Government had been lax about implementing the Sachar Committee recommendations or on the question of putting a ban on forward trading as demanded by the Left parties, it had shown ''exemplary haste'' with the Nuke deal negotiations.

Rebutting allegations of ''unpatriotic behaviour'' being levelled against the Left parties, he said after four years of support to the UPA government, they did not require any certificate of patriotism from it.

Accusing the government of deliberately moving away from the Common Minimum Programme, agreed upon both by the UPA allies and the Left, Mr Salim said,''Though we differed with the Congress on so many issues like economic policies, disinvestment, inflation, we still supported the UPA as it was in the national interests.'' Charging both the RSS-BJP and the United States with indulging in divisive policies, he said the Left had trusted the UPA government to crack down on communal forces.

''But there was no action against the Modi government in Gujarat nor was the CBI given any of the riot cases. Srikrishna Commission report is lying in cold storage,'' he said and accused the Government of being soft on communalism.

He also debunked the Government's contention that nuclear energy was the best option for the country, citing an International Energy Foundation report. He said gas was the cheapest option and coal cheaper than nuclear power. ''Even Pachauri(Chairman of the UN's Inter-governmental panel on climate change) says nuclear energy was not a priority,'' he said.

UNI