Govt8217;s move to approach IAEA shocking betrayal: Left

Noting that it was a 8220;blatant violation of the assurance8221; given by the Government that it will seek a confidence vote before going to IAEA, Karat said the move was 8220;nothing but a shocking betrayal of moral commitment not only to the Left parties, but to the country and people.

8220;In less than 24 hours, when the country knows that the Government is reduced to a minority, the text of the IAEA agreement has been submitted,8221; he said.

The Left leaders wondered how the Government changed its position to approach the IAEA in less than 24 hours of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing that the ruling coalition would seek a vote of confidence in the wake of Left parties withdrawing support.

8220;There is no reason to doubt the integrity of Mukherjee who said that he had consulted the Prime Minister before telling the nation that the Government would seek a confidence vote,8221; Karat said.

He said the Left parties want the Prime Minister to tell the nation 8220;what transpired in the meeting he had with US President George W Bush in Japan which led to the going back on a public pledge that they will seek a vote of confidence8221;.

Bardhan said the Government8217;s move had made the position of Mukherjee 8220;untenable8221;.

8220;Twice he had said something and twice the Government did something else. He wrote a letter July 10 but before anything could be done, the Prime Minister went on air saying that the Government would move IAEA.

8220;Then again he made a solemn commitment that the Government would not proceed to the Board of Governors of the IAEA till it proves its majority,8221; he said.

Asked whether Mukherjee should quit, the top CPI leader said it was 8220;up to his conscience8221;.

Karat said the Left parties will study the draft of the safeguards agreement, which was made public by the Government this morning, and soon come out with their analysis and stand on the issue.

8220;We have been demanding that the text be made public. All talks of the text being 8216;classified8217; and 8216;privileged8217; are manufactured by the Government but the IAEA has no such problems in making it available for public,8221; he said.

He noted that the UPA Government was keeping the text confidential and not the IAEA, which has been 8220;confirmed by spokespersons of the IAEA in the last 24 hours8221;.

Ridiculing Congress spokespersons who went on air noting that making the text public would lead to 8216;nuclear terrorism8217;, Karat said, 8220;don8217;t treat public in such a manner.

We also have intelligence.8221; Maintaining that 8220;all sorts of concoctions8221; were being put forth to justify the government8217;s stand on the nuclear deal, Karat said three versions came out on the issue from three quarters 8212; Mukherjee, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar and Congress spokespersons.

Observing that Congress spokespersons had said that making the text of the safeguards agreement public would invite 8220;nuclear terrorism8221;, he said 8220;today the text is available on the site of the MEA.8221;

8220;We have great respect for Kakodkar. He has gone on record saying negotiations on the draft were in progress with the IAEA. But while he was saying this, the government asked the IAEA to submit it for consideration by the Board of Governors,8221; he said.

8220;At least, put one version of lies and not different lies,8221; Karat said.

While the government and the Congress were maintaining that the draft of the agreement were classified, 8220;we got this text from various American websites. This is the plight of the country,8221; the CPIM leader said.

Maintaining that the fight against the deal would be fought on 8220;every step8221;, he said 8220;it is not just a matter of a vote in Parliament. We will make it politically impossible for the government go ahead with the deal.8221;