Oppose nuke deal but don't be hostile: NCP to Left

As the Left toughened its stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the NCP Wednesday advised them to be cautious in their opposition to the pact, warning that it might lead to a "hostile situation".

Party spokesman D P Tripathi disputed the Left contention that the Hyde Act would have an impact on the Indian foreign policy saying that the US legislation has its implications in that country only.

"From the beginning the Left has been playing the role of an opposition and this should not lead to a hostile situation," Tripathi told reporters. Refuting Left's arguments on Hyde Act, he said the act would do no harm to the country's sovereignty and his party saw no wide implications of the act on India.

"We have closely read the Hyde Act. We could not find any wide implications of the act on India," he said. "We entirely support the deal. We won't shirk moral or political responsibility for India entering into a nuclear deal with the US as we were part of the decision making process," he said.

On CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat's statement that the deal should not be operationalised, he said no one should put such deadlines as discussions were part of democracy. Asked whether elections are round the corner, Tripathi evaded a direct reply but said the UPA coalition was ready for the polls.