As the government sought to push the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Congress on Tuesday downplayed the Left opposition to the agreement, saying any further steps in this regard would be taken only after consultations in the joint mechanism with Left parties.

Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said that the government had gone to the IAEA after consensus and any further step will be taken after consultation.

On the Ram Sethu issue, he accused the BJP of playing politics in the matter and reminded the saffron party that four of its leaders, including Arun Jaitely, had been instrumental in clearing the project when they were in the government.

He was also critical of the saffron party's attempts to communalise plans to have discussion in Parliament on the issues of population.

Ahmed paid a left-handed compliment to the Opposition parties by congratulating them for smooth conduct of Parliament in the last two days.