It is up to PM to Protect Government: Karat

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August 12, 2007
It is up to PM to Protect Government: Karat

Thiruvananthapuram
Hitting out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for daring the Left to withdraw support over the India-US civilian nuclear deal, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat said Sunday that it was for the prime minister to "protect his government".

Reiterating the Left's rejection of the nuclear deal, Karat said the next step by the communists, who give outside support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, would be decided soon.

"It is his (prime minister's) government and it is for him to protect his government and not our responsibility. He has to decide if he has to run his government," said Karat in response to a question on whether the days of the Manmohan Singh government are numbered.

He was speaking to reporters here after attending a meeting of the party's state unit.

On repeated questions about what his party's stand would be when the India-US nuclear deal is discussed in parliament, the Left leader said: "Our stand would be decided soon," he said.

In a direct swipe at the prime minister, Karat said that they were aware that Manmohan Singh was "a very sensitive person" about his government's relations with the US.

"In fact, this is not a matter of sensitivity but a matter of serious import. We don't want to go ahead with the agreement. The UPA government should look into the Common Minimum Programme. Nowhere does it mention the India-US nuclear deal," said Karat.

In an interview to The Telegraph published Saturday, Manmohan Singh had said that he would not go back on the deal. "I told them (the Left leaders) to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it."

The prime minister is to make a statement on the deal in parliament Monday, followed by a debate Tuesday and Thursday.

IANS | August 12, 2007

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