Reacting sharply to US Ambassador to India David C Mulford’s remarks on the issue in an interview, they said the US cannot use pressure tactics to push the deal through.

CPI MP D Raja said in Delhi that India was a sovereign nation with a vibrant Parliament and cannot be hustled into taking key decisions. He said the US Ambassador’s remarks, that if the deal was not processed in the present Congress it would not be offered to India again, amounted to “intimidation” and “blackmail”.
Raja said India was developing its own nuclear technology and looking for alternative sources like uranium and thorium.

UPA warned

All India Forward Bloc General Secretary Debrabrata Biswas told reporters in Chennai that said his party would withdraw support to the UPA Government if it operationalised the 123 agreement.

“Who is this Mulford? Why is he threatening India on the issue? We will not compromise on our stand and allow the Government to finalise the deal,” he said.

Even if other constituents of the Left front backtracked on the issue, Forward Bloc would meet President Pratibha Patil and give its letter, withdrawing support to the UPA government, he added.