Stop further steps on Nuke deal - now: Left

NEW DELHI: Communist parties hardened their stand on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal on Monday saying the government should put an immediate end to any further negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the four Left parties, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja said the government "should not proceed further with the agreement" in view of the opposition in parliament to the deal.

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"The Left parties wish to state that this would require not taking the next step of negotiations for the safeguards agreement with the IAEA," said Raja, reading out a prepared statement.

"The Left parties can understand the setting up of a committee or any other mechanism which can go into the objections regarding the agreement and evaluating the implications of the Hyde Act for the nuclear cooperation deal. But this can follow only when the next step at IAEA is not taken."

In the same breath, the Left urged members of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to see the merits of the Left's vehement opposition to the nuclear agreement.

"The Left parties appeal to all parties in the UPA to see the reasonableness of the stand taken which is fully in the spirit of our parliamentary democracy and the government's commitment to the country's welfare," Raja said.

"The Left parties await the response of the Congress leadership and the UPA to their proposal."