The faceoff between the government and the Left over the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal seems imminent in the next few days in Parliament, as the Left leadership, persisting with their hard stance, said they were opposed to operationalisation of the deal, notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh?s tough talk that the Left was free to withdraw support to the ruling coalition.

Making it clear that the Left would not buckle under pressure from the Prime Minister , CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday put the onus of running the government on the Congress once again. Blaming the Prime Minister for being ?sensitive? on the relations with the US, Karat reiterated that the Left were not ready to change its position on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

?You should ask the Congress party whether you want to run the government. It is the responsibility of the Congress to see that the government does not take any policy, which contradicts with the CMP,? Karat told reporters at Thiruvanathapuram, when asked whether relationship with the Left and the UPA is heading for a face-off after Prime Minister?s challenge to the Left parties.

?Our party?s stand is very clear. The Congress party and the government has got that statement. The Left does not want the government to proceed with the operationalisation of the agreement,? he said. Reminding the Prime Minister that his government is being run on the Left?s support, Karat said, ?We are all aware that the Prime Minister is very sensitive on the government?s relations with the US. But this is not a matter of sensitivity alone. This is an issue of serious import.?

The tough posturing from both sides notwithstanding, there were enough indications that mediators from either sides were engaged in trying to find a way out of the emerging standoff. CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury was understood to have talked to the Prime Minister over the phone, where he reportedly said that the Left opposition was a reality, but it would not translate to withdrawal of support. In other words, the Left had no intentions of destabilising the government, while making their point clear on the nuclear deal.

The Prime Minister too, was said to have shown willingness to meet Left leaders on Monday, before making his statement on the nuclear agreement in the Lok Sabha at 3 pm. That the Left do not want to take their opposition to the extent of rocking the UPA boat had been evident when the Left decided to give notices under Rule 193 for discussion of the deal.

However, Karat on Sunday, sought to send a clear message that the Left support should not be taken for granted. The UPA should consider the fact that it is running the government with the support of the Left. ?The CMP of the UPA did not say a word about the strategic alliance with the US,? he added.

Hinting that the Left may review its strategy in Parliament on the nuclear deal, he said any debate in Parliament will show that the government did not have a majority in support of the deal. ?The government should heed that message of Parliament. Any debate or discussion in Parliament would show that the government is not in majority,? he said.

Meanwhile in Delhi, former prime minister VP Singh has asked the Left parties to pull down the UPA government on the nuclear deal.

?I think if the Left takes an initiative now, it will benefit as it never was in the past,? Singh told a press conference. He also said that he is in touch with the CPI(M) and CPI top brass for demanding a discussion under rule 184 in Parliament. ?They told me that they will think of it,? Singh added.

Terming the nuclear deal a ?Himalayan blunder,? the veteran leader said, ?The Prime Minister says that the deal cannot be renegotiated. But the deal has the provision for termination. If Manmohan Singh is not being able to terminate it, we will have to find another Prime Minister who can do it.?