
Hitting back at CPIM a day after its attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress said the Communist parties are indulging in irrational and 8216;absurd arguments8217; on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Citing rising oil prices, the party justified the nuclear deal as being essential for the country8217;s energy needs and warned that the country8217;s economic growth was being endangered by 8216;blind ideological obduracy8217;.
A day after Prakash Karat8217;s article attacking the Prime Minister appeared, Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily issued a seven-page statement countering the arguments forwarded by CPIM General Secretary.
8220;The Left8217;s objections to nuclear deal are ideological rather than rational and it has fallen back on absurd arguments,8221; said the statement which quotes former President A P J Abdul Kalam as well as some scientists to defend the nuclear deal.
8220;If Russia and America, China and Pakistan and China and Russia are all busy signing civil nuclear deals, should India forego pursuing its interests? Obstructing the deal means that the nation8217;s energy security and its ability to withstand future oil price shocks would be further reduced,8221; Moily said.