Nuke deal: PM dares Left to withdraw support

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has dared the Left parties to withdraw support to his government on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

''I told them (Left parties) that it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. It is an honourable deal, the cabinet has approved it, we cannot go back on it.

''I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it,'' he said in an interview to the Kolkata based daily The Telegraph.

The Prime Minister's virtual challenge to the Left parties, whose 64 members in Lok Sabha provide a crucial make or break support to the UPA government, comes in the context of strong statements made by CPI-M leader Prakash Karat and CPI's AB Bardhan.

The Left leaders had warned that the government may have to pay a ''heavy price'' if it went ahead with the nuclear deal with the US.

The Prime Minister also made it clear that the UPA-Left relationship could not be a one-sided affair.

''I don't get angry, I don't want to use harsh words. They are our colleagues and we have to work with them. But they also have to learn to work with us,'' he said.

On the other hand Sitaram Yechury of CPI(M) appeared to be holding fast to their opinion on the deal.

''The PM is articulating his viewpoint which is not in consonance with ours. But we will oppose the N-deal. We will discuss it in Parliament,'' he said.

On the Left's reservations about dealing with the United States, Singh said, ''Look at Vietnam, look at China (the way they are engaging with America) - out of fear of dealing with the US, we cannot become a frog in the well.'' (With PTI inputs)