India need not surrender interests to US: Left

A day after UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi made a veiled attack on opponents of the Indo-US nuclear deal, Left parties on Monday hit back, saying that India need not surrender its 8220;vital interests8221; to America on the agreement.

8220;The Left parties categorically reiterate that the nuclear deal with the US is against the interests of India. Those who advocate the deal, should know that India is capable of developing nuclear energy primarily on a self-reliant basis,8221; top Left leaders said in a statement in New Delhi.

8220;We need not surrender our vital interests to America on this plea,8221; CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI leader A B Brdhan, Forward Bloc8217;s Deabrata Bisws and RSP8217;s Abani Roy said in the statement.

The joint reaction of the Red brigade came a day after Gandhi obliquely attacked the Left, saying that 8220;elements8221; opposing the nuclear agreement were not only 8220;enemies8221; of the Congress, but also of the nation8217;s progress and development.