PTI
 
New Delhi, Aug 24: Hinting at a softening of its line, the CPI(M) on Thursday said it did not want the "current crisis" over the Indo-US nuclear deal to affect the Manmohan Singh government and that it has not discussed the possibility of elections.

At the conclusion of a crucial two-day meeting of its highest policy making body, the Central Committee, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat appeared less strident and said the party was trying to allay apprehensions that it was interested in pulling down the government.

There was, however, no dilution of the CPI(M)'s opposition to the nuclear deal. "The Central Committee does not want the current crisis to affect the government. However, this is contingent upon the government not proceeding further with the agreement," a resolution adopted by the meeting said.

"The Central Committee, therefore, authorizes the Politburo to take whatever necessary measures to see that the agreement is not operationalized," it said.

Addressing a press conference, Karat said "if the government decides to operationalize the agreement, the responsibility for the future of this government lie with the government."

"...Unfortunately we are in such a situation we are again trying to allay any apprehension that we are interested in this government going. We would like ... We don't want this crisis to affect the government, but it is dependent on how the government acts," he said.

Asked if withdrawal of support was not mentioned in the party statements, then what was the meaning of the threat of serious consequences, Karat said "we will decide when the operationalisation of the agreement takes place. Then we will decide."

On Prime Minister's statement that if winter is there, can spring be far behind, he said "I hope there will be no nuclear fission and we will have a long nuclear winter."

Replying to questions, Karat said they would give the government time as long as it does not proceed with the next step to operationalize the agreement. "That would depend upon the Committee or the mechanism looking into all the problems and objections and clear them."

He said the Left parties were not in a hurry and welcomed a debate in Parliament. "That will again reaffirm what we are saying that the agreement does not have majority support in Parliament."

Asked whether there would be any serious consequences (to the government), Karat said "that is what our party Central Committee has fully authorized the Politburo to take whatever steps are necessary."

The Central Committee resolution fully endorsed the stand taken by the Politburo that the bilateral agreement will bind India into a strategic alliance with the US with long-term consequences.

Asked if they were ready for elections now Karat said they have not discussed elections in the Central Committee meeting.

On what were the options before the Left parties, he said "well that we will discuss when it happens. I hope it does not happen."

To a question about the government talking to members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), he said "we are aware of that and since the Japanese Prime Minister is here, I am sure the Prime Minister would have talked about that. We don't expect him not to do that".

On the IAEA meeting in September, he said "we know that we are members of the IAEA Board. Our representatives will attend the international annual conference. All these are normal things. We are not going into all these. We are not flustered by such things.

"It is expected. We expect them to be there. We have to have Indian representatives there."

Queried whether the party was open for working out details if the government was ready, he said they were ready provided the government did not take the next step in the agreement.

"We are prepared for any ... we have already said three days ago that we are prepared to consider any mechanism or committee to examine all the problems connected with this agreement provided they don't proceed with the next step," the CPI(M) leader said.

To another question, he said the party did not use the words it would withdraw support. "We have not used the word withdraw support in any of our statements. You won't see a single leader of the CPI(M) either in Delhi, or in Kolkata or in Hyderabad having said we will withdraw support. Our Politburo has not given such a statement."