Left to vote against UPA if deal moves

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

July 4: The Left parties have declared that they would vote against the United Progressive Alliance go-vernment in Parliament in case of a confidence motion if the government took the next step to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"If there is a vote of confidence in parliament on the issue, the Left will vote against the government. But we will do so only after the government formally conveys its decision to proceed with the deal," agency reports quoted CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat as telling a news magazine.

Mr Karat said the Left would also launch a nation-wide campaign against the Congress asking people to defeat the party in the next elections for compromising the national interests. "We will link this to inflation and rising prices," Mr Karat was quoted as saying.