New Delhi: The BJP today dared the Left to "show courage" and withdraw support to the government on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal issue as it ridiculed the CPI(M)'s fresh ultimatum to the UPA on the matter.

"We don't trust the flexible fluidity of the Left. They lack the courage to withdraw support to the government because the looming fear of the BJP is more important to them than the apparent sellout to the US," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said here. Reacting to CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat giving an ultimatum to the government on the deal, he said the Left had earlier also set deadlines but found some "via media" not to withdraw support to the UPA as it does not have the courage do so.

"If Prakash Karat is so serious, let him show the courage and withdraw support. He lacks courage," Prasad added. It was not just a question of the nuclear deal. The Left had served ultimatums to the government on earlier occasions also but always some via media was found to continue support, he said.

Prasad was reacting to Karat's statement yesterday saying the government should be prepared for mid-term polls to the Lok Sabha if it goes ahead with talks with the IAEA beyond December.

Source : PTI