Karat said the Government must wait for the next Parliament session before operationalising the deal. “The country needs time. We are a democracy and the Government needs to convince the people. Why can’t they put the deal on hold? In fact, they (Government) committed many more things to the US.”

Citing the Indian vote against Iran at IAEA and the logistic framework agreement with the US, he said, “We do not trust the Government anymore.” Pointing that Russia, China and Sri Lanka abstained from the voting at IAEA, Karat repeated that “even if China approves the deal at NSG, we would still oppose it”.

Hinting at Union minister Kapil Sibal’s statements on the deal and against the Left parties, he said, “for the sake of the country, we have to bear many things.”