The Communist Party of India on Thursday did not rule out the possibility of a consensus on the India-United States nuclear agreement. The party said that the future of the nuclear deal depends on what action the government takes.
"I don't rule out the possibility of finding a consensus. It depends upon what steps the government takes. After all, it is not a one-issue or a one-party government but a coalition," said CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan.
On the Left Front's next step, he said "The CPI National Council has authorised the National Executive and Central Secretariat to take appropriate decisions in consultation with the other Left parties."
Asked if the CPI and the Left Front would take a tough stance against the government after the November 16 meeting of the UPA-Left Committee on the issue, he said "It all depends on what the government's response is."
Bardhan accused the United States of rushing its high officials and diplomats to India to "pressurise the government and the BJP" to go ahead with the deal.
"Never have I seen such high officials descending on the country to persuade ... Some times there are allurements, sometime threats and sometime blackmail," Bardhan said, adding "but our political parties are capable of withstanding this and strengthening our democratic process".
