New Delhi: The CPI-M on Monday dismissed the possibility of immediate withdrawal of support by Left parties to the UPA government over Indo-US nuclear deal.
Asked by reporters whether Left parties would continue with their 'friendly football match' with the UPA governmentor score a goal, the General Secretary of CPI-M, Prakash Karat replied "Abhi nahi (not now)."
He said the Manmohan Singh government should choose between Left support and its endeavour to have a strategic alliance with the US.
"The Americans will ask us to snap relations with Iran and scrap our gas pipeline project. This is an attack on our sovereignty. The Left will not allow the US to shape Indian foreign policy," Karat said.
"As long as Left parties support the UPA, US demand for privatisation of the bank, insurance and agriculture sectors will not be allowed," he said.
Karat said Left parties were not against nuclear energy but Indo-US deal which would "affect" India's indigenous nuclear programme.
"We have a self-reliant nuclear energy programme."
He also said "the deal does not have majority support in Parliament. "All non-UPA political parties are against the deal but the government it seems places it word given to the US President George Bush above Parliament."
Stating that the Left would not compromise on its stand, Karat said the UPA government instead of addressing the problem of price rise and strengthening PDS, was "wasting" time with its "pro-America" stand.
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