Flagging off the Jatha organised by the Left parties against the joint naval exercise involving the United States, veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Jyoti Basu on Tuesday stepped up the Left attack on the United Progressive Alliance government for its tilt towards the US.

"The UPA government is trying to turn the country into the American fold which is against the Common Minimum Programme, on the basis of which the Left is extending support to the Centre," Basu said addressing a gathering before kick starting the 'jatha'(procession).

"This is against the country's independent foreign policy," the 94-year-old politburo member of the CPM said and hoped that the people of the country would realise the danger and extend support to the 'jatha'.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan who is heading the 'jatha' from Kolkata to Vishakapattanam said that he had no idea about the outcome of the committee set up by the UPA government to address the concerns of the Left parties on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"The government will face the consequence if it goes ahead with operationalising the deal," he said.