PM offered to quit over N-deal? Gossip, says Govt

New Delhi: Did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh staked his job on the fate of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal after the Left threatened the Government against operationalising it?

There were rumours in the capital on Friday afternoon after media reports that Dr Singh had asked Left leaders to "allow him to leave" if the 123 Agreement cannot be implemented.

The PM reportedly "used this ultimate weapon" when he had telephoned CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat and CPI leaders AB Bardhan on Tuesday night after they had issued a statement rejecting the 123 Agreement.

The Government wasted no time in dimissing the reports as mere 'gossip'. "I tell you these are only gossip. Our Prime Minister is firm to complete the full term with success and deliver the promises made in the National Common Minimum Programme," Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters in New Delhi.

He was responding to reports in a section of the media that the Prime Minister was 'visibly upset' over the Left's rejection of the deal and used the resignation threat to counter his Marxist allies.

The reports attributed to unnamed Left sources had it that Singh used words to the effect that he should be allowed "to leave" if the Left were hellbent on opposing the deal, which reportedly put the Left leaders on the defensive.

Dasmunsi said a discussion on the deal will be held in Parliament on August 14 and 16 after the Prime Minister's statement on Monday.

The Left parties as well as Opposition NDA and UNPA have rejected the 123 Agreement concluded last month and are pressing for a debate on the issue in Parliament. However, while NDA and UNPA are demanding the debate under Rule 184, which entails voting, the Left wants the discussion without voting under Rule 193.

PAGE_BREAK

Government says it was for the presiding officers to decide the nature and form of discussions.

The Left, meanwhile, held out another threat to the UPA Government at the Centre, saying the government will face "serious consequences" if the civil nuclear deal is operationalised. The Left parties also insisted on considering the 'sense' of Parliament on the matter.

Describing India's strategic engagement with the US as a 'national tragedy', the Left parties asked the government to read its 'message' but did not spell out the 'consequences' that the UPA will have to face.

"The government enjoys the support of the Left. It is a national tragedy that such a government enters into a strategic pact with imperialist America headed by (George W) Bush. We cannot stomach such an agreement," CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta said at a joint press conference of the Left Front.

"The Prime Minister has said that the government will not go back on the deal. We are also saying that we will oppose the agreement inside and outside Parliament tooth and nail," CPI(M) leader Basudev Acharia said after a meeting of Left parties to decide the strategy in Parliament.

The Left asked the Congress to understand the 'gravity of the situation'. "This is an untenable situation. The Left cannot close its eyes to such a development," Dasgupta said.

(With PTI inputs)