Saturday, July 9 2005 12:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stepping up their campaign against the framework agreement on the US-India defence relationship, four Left parties today (July 08, 2005) demanded its cancellation as it was fraught with 'serious consequences.'

"This step has been taken surreptitiously. It should have been placed before the people and the supporting parties of the Government for an open debate," Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat said addressing a public meeting on the recently signed agreement.

Suggesting that the framework be 'disposed of in the dustbin,' he asked the UPA Government, supported by the Left from outside, not to go into such strategic partnership that 'deflects the Government from the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).'

Echoing similar views, Communist Party of India General Secretary A B Bardhan said, "It was a serious matter and wondered if an exploratory visit by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee led to this agreement, then what could be outcome of a substantive visit."

Both Karat and Bardhan cautioned that, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his forthcoming visit to the United States, should refrain from doing anything to appease the US.

They said that nation-wide campaign would be launched if the Government did not scrap the agreement.

Rastriya Samajwadi Party MP Abani Roy and Forward Bloc leader Shyam Charan Gaur, who also addressed the meeting, said, "The Government was flouting the CMP time and again and added that the Left parties could not remain a silent spectator to it.