We were ready to withdraw support after N-deal: Karat

The CPI(M) was ready to withdraw support to the UPA government after the July 2005 Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, party General Secretary Prakash Karat has said in an interview to a news agency.

Asked if the Left had seriously considered breaking ties with the government during the two-and-a-half years of its rule, Karat said, "Well, on foreign policy, definitely yes. Iran, and around that time, post-July 2005, has been a period when our party leadership discussed that if this is the direction in which the government is going, it will be difficult for the Left to sustain its support."

He said this was discussed seriously within the party and also with the UPA leadership "once or twice."

Asked is it was an ultimatum, Karat said, "No. It was not an ultimatum. On Iran, definitely, they did not listen to us. They went ahead."