While most of the Left parties on Sunday took strong exception to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s remarks that those opposing the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal are “enemies” of the country’s development, CPI(M) went soft saying there is nothing to take umbrage at her statement.

However, the CPI(M) is likely to convene a meeting of its Politburo here soon if UPA-Left committee on the deal fails to end the logjam on the issue.

Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks at a public meeting in Jhajjar, Haryana, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said “Congress is going to an election mode. Congress wants to impose an election on the country. It is Congress which will be responsible if the governments falls and an election is imposed on the country”.

He said the Left was trying its best and its presence in the committee was a pointer in this direction. “We never said that we are withdrawing our support. We never said that we are going to pull you down”.

By contrast, CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the Congress has as much right to articulate its views in public on the issue as the Left has.

“We have been taking our view on the deal to the people openly. They (Congress) also have a right to do so. Let the people decide. There is nothing to take umbrage over her remarks”, he said.

He said “they (Congress) are not questioning our integrity and we are also not doing so”.