Congress forcing elections on people

Left parties today took strong exception to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's comments against those opposing the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and alleged the Congress was forcing elections on the country.
The parties insisted that their opposition to the nuclear deal with the US was a "principled position which cannot be compromised" as they believe the pact was not in the interest of the country.

"The Congress is going to an election mode. The Congress wants to impose an election on the country. It is the Congress which will be responsible if the governments falls and an election is imposed on the country," CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said.

He went on to add that the Left was trying its best and its presence in the committee was a pointer in this direction. "We never said that we are withdrawing our support. We never said that we are going to pull you down," Bardhan added.

Reacting to Gandhi's remarks, CPI Secretary D Raja told PTI that "it appears that the Congress is forcing elections on the people. The Left is not instrumental in plunging the country to another elections." Asserting that Left has been opposing the nuclear deal in national interest, he said, "We are identified with peace and development and it is the Left which has been peace movement and fighting for nuclear disarmament." CPI-M General Secretary declined to give an immediate reaction.

In a sharp but veiled attack on the Left, Congress President Sonia Gandhi at a public meeting in Haryana strongly defended the nuclear deal and alleged "elements" opposed to the country's progress were enemies not only of the Congress but also of the nation's development. PTI