Monday, February 20 2006 13:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Taking strong exception to US envoy David Mulford's remarks on India's vote at the IAEA and his despatching a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharjee, Left parties today (Feb 20,2006) staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha demanding his immediate recall.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M) said it was 'very shameful' that the envoy was functioning in a Viceregal fashion.

While the country was engaged in a national debate on the stand it should take on the Iran issue, Mulford gave a statement saying compliance, facilitation and implementation of the peaceful nuclear energy agreement that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh entered into with US President George Bush would depend on India's vote at the IAEA, Basu said.

Later, the envoy in an interview to sources lambasted Left parties on the FDI issue, he said.

"We would not have any objection if Mulford joins one of our political parties and take on the Left. But what is moreshameful is that the government is not taking up the issue," he said.

He was joined by his party colleagues who said, 'shame, shame'.