Thiruvananthapuram: Forward Bloc, which supports UPA government at the Centre from outside, today dismissed as "futile exercise" meetings of UPA-Left cordination committee on India-US nuclear deal as there was no 'meeting point' on the issue between the two sides and demanded suspension of the next meeting on May 28.

All the previous meetings were "futile exercise" because the government was arguing for the deal while the Left vehemently opposed it, Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devarajan told reporters on Friday.

The Left would not compromise on its position, he said. Forward Bloc wanted the May 28 meeting to be suspended and this demand of the party would be raised in the Left parties' meeting scheduled to be held on May 23, he said.

Accusing the Centre of being responsible for the current price rise, Devarajan said Centre "ignored" all the suggestions and recommendations put forward by the Left to check inflation. The Left had wanted the Centre to ban forward trading on 25 items and amend the Essential Commodities Act empowering the state governments to deal firmly with blackmarketers and hoarders, he said.

Devarajan termed as 'cosmetic' the measures initiated by Finanace Minister P Chidabaram to contain inflation. (PTI)