Left hopeful of Govt's final stand on N-deal on October 22

CHENNAI: The CPI(M) on Friday said it was expecting the Government's final stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal to be announced on October 22, when the next meeting between the UPA and the Left on the deal is scheduled.

CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury evaded a direct reply when asked whether a consensus between the Congress and the Left was possible on the issue.

Apparently not giving up hopes on persuading the Left on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said at the India-Brazil-South Africa summit on October 17 that the process of evolving a 'meaningful consensus is still on'.

"We have raised objections over the harmful implications of the deal," the CPI-M leader said adding that it has been agreed to consider the findings of the UPA-Left committee on the deal before the Government proceed to operationalise it.

Responding to a query on the Congress' differing statements on the deal, Yechury said his party was going by the written word and what has gone in the four rounds of meeting so far 'is our landmark'.

Asked whether the Left were really consistent on their stand, Yechury said, "It depends on how you look at us, but there is no change in our consistency and position."