The Congress on Saturday downplayed the Left's strident talk that it would bring the Manmohan Singh government 'to its knees' over the Iran issue. It also made light of the Samajwadi Party's plan to move a no-confidence motion, along with Telugu Desam Party, in the Lok Sabha.
"The TDP is a party with five MPs in the Lok Sabha. They have a right to support whoever they want but I don't see it becoming a campaign against the government," Ambika Soni, All India Congress Committee media department chairperson said.
Soni, who is also the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, said the United Progressive Alliance-Left Coordination Committee was scheduled to meet on Monday and the issues raised by the Left could be taken up there.
She said what the Left have said on the Iran issue reflected their strong feelings on an issue close to their political and ideological concerns but felt it would not lead to destabilisation of the coalition government.
Soni emphasised that Left leaders like Jyoti Basu have already made it clear that what the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its allies were doing was merely expressing concern on certain issues.
Dismissing the attack on the government on the Iran issue, she said India has played a positive role by deferring the whole matter. Soni said parties in the UPA and those supporting the coalition have come together on issues like secularism.
Complete coverage: The Iran vote and after
