BJP, Left stick to positions on nuclear deal
Even as the US continues to lean on the Indian leadership for taking the nuclear agreement to the IAEA for working out India-specific safeguards, the anti-deal political opinion appears to be getting harder.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Even as the US continues to lean on the Indian leadership for taking the nuclear agreement to the IAEA for working out India-specific safeguards, the anti-deal political opinion appears to be getting harder.
While the BJP has ruled out a re-look at its opposition to the 123 Agreement, the Left has already concluded a round of consultations with parties within the ruling side to adopt a common approach on the issue. The nuclear deal enthusiasts’ fanciful theory of a pro and anti-deal section within the BJP also took a knocking on Monday after Opposition Leader L K Advani, who was put in the pro-deal column by the deal-backers, ruled out his party’s support for the agreement in his talks with American ambassador David Mulford as well as former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.
On its part, the CPM is quite hopeful of the sceptics within the government supporting its stand in the next confrontation with the Centre. Although the NCP and the RJD sought the Left’s indulgence for the government’s move to approach the IAEA, the two parties are clear that the ruling side should not do anything that would antagonise Prakash Karat and his friends. The CPM general secretary has also been involved in negotiations with these parties for adopting a common approach.
The CPM on Tuesday ridiculed attempts to interpret Mr Karat’s “there is no threat to the UPA government” as a sign of a softening on the part of the Left. CPM leaders here said the crisis can be averted only if the government agrees to dump the nuclear deal. In other words, Left-UPA amity is critically dependent on the Manmohan Singh government’s surrender on the nuclear agreement. The CPM’s Polit Bureau, which is expected to meet in the third week of November, will reiterate this position.
The anti-deal sections within the government and the alliance are convinced that there would not be any forward movement on the agreement as there is no scope for negotiations with the Opposition on the issue. This assessment stems from the fact that there is a complete breakdown of relationship between the ruling side and the NDA. The NDA has been complaining that the government leadership has been pandering to the Congress president’s preference for antagonism.
For the prime minister, who is persisting with the line that he is attempting to work out a consensus, the developments do not augur well. With a majority of the political process ruling out any compromise on the agreement, he may not find credible voices to join the consensus-building exercise.
While the BJP has ruled out a re-look at its opposition to the 123 Agreement, the Left has already concluded a round of consultations with parties within the ruling side to adopt a common approach on the issue. The nuclear deal enthusiasts’ fanciful theory of a pro and anti-deal section within the BJP also took a knocking on Monday after Opposition Leader L K Advani, who was put in the pro-deal column by the deal-backers, ruled out his party’s support for the agreement in his talks with American ambassador David Mulford as well as former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.
On its part, the CPM is quite hopeful of the sceptics within the government supporting its stand in the next confrontation with the Centre. Although the NCP and the RJD sought the Left’s indulgence for the government’s move to approach the IAEA, the two parties are clear that the ruling side should not do anything that would antagonise Prakash Karat and his friends. The CPM general secretary has also been involved in negotiations with these parties for adopting a common approach.
The CPM on Tuesday ridiculed attempts to interpret Mr Karat’s “there is no threat to the UPA government” as a sign of a softening on the part of the Left. CPM leaders here said the crisis can be averted only if the government agrees to dump the nuclear deal. In other words, Left-UPA amity is critically dependent on the Manmohan Singh government’s surrender on the nuclear agreement. The CPM’s Polit Bureau, which is expected to meet in the third week of November, will reiterate this position.
The anti-deal sections within the government and the alliance are convinced that there would not be any forward movement on the agreement as there is no scope for negotiations with the Opposition on the issue. This assessment stems from the fact that there is a complete breakdown of relationship between the ruling side and the NDA. The NDA has been complaining that the government leadership has been pandering to the Congress president’s preference for antagonism.
For the prime minister, who is persisting with the line that he is attempting to work out a consensus, the developments do not augur well. With a majority of the political process ruling out any compromise on the agreement, he may not find credible voices to join the consensus-building exercise.
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