Accusing the media of having “been bought over,” Karat said: “We are being branded as pro-China and told that our stand is going to help China. But, in reality, our stand has nothing to do with China. Our stand is sui generis. Even if China, as an NSG member, supports the deal, we will still oppose it.”

When the nuclear-powered US warship USS Nimitz anchored at Chennai, the US embassy in Delhi issued a statement describing it as a “landmark event.” “Why it is a landmark, no media asked. They are so ignorant. They are happy with the American embassy press handouts,” Karat said.

“The Americans know why it was a landmark. A landmark because we were receiving the Nimitz, which along with Kitty Hawk, formed part of the US Seventh Fleet. These had glorious achievements in heavy bombardment of South and North Vietnam,” said Karat. “Earlier, Diego Garcia was the only place where they could refuel and now Nimitz will visit our ports.”

He stressed that the civil-nuclear deal should never be viewed in isolation. “It is not a stand-alone agreement. It’s a quid pro quo for the Defence Framework Agreement of June 2005, signed surreptitiously without taking the UPA partners into confidence.”

‘Findings of panel will be taken into account’

THE Left parties on Friday refused to join issue with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who said operationalisation of the civilian nuclear deal starts only when the 123 agreement is implemented, and let the political committee formed to address their concerns do its work. Meanwhile, CPI(M) Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Md Salim said “yes” when asked whether operationalisation includes the IAEA talks. Salim said they too go by Thursday’s statement and understand that “the findings of the committee will be taken into account while operationalising the deal... I can’t respond to what the External Affairs Minister said. We are going by Thursday’s statement and also the statement of the party’s Politburo and Central Committee”.