Sonia backs PM on nuclear deal
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday attempted to shield Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UPA government from the vicious attack by the Left on nuclear energy.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday attempted to shield Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UPA government from the vicious attack by the Left on nuclear energy.
���Nuclear energy has gained much importance in view of the steep rise in global oil prices,��� Ms Gandhi said while addressing a party rally in Guwahati. On Thursday, the CPM had described those backing the Indo-US nuclear deal as lackeys of the US.
This statement of Ms Gandhi, however, is no indication of a resolve to take on the Left on the nuke deal issue. Senior Congress leaders here said that the party was against any move that would anger the easy-to-offend Left.
That the political climate is quite trying for the Congress was clear when Ms Gandhi said rising inflation was the biggest challenge before the country. While the worst on inflation is yet to come, the government���s food policy is a cause of disquiet among farmers and consumers.
On her part, Ms Gandhi sought to pin the blame on international factors. She said the Centre had no other choice but to increase petrol prices and it was trying to shield people from additional burden. ���We had to increase the prices of petrol because of the surging global oil prices. There was no alternative. During the BJP���s time, international crude was $40 a barrel but now it is close to $140.���
Ms Gandhi defended the oil price hike saying the petrol and diesel prices in the country were cheaper than that in neighbouring countries and other parts of the world.
The Left leaders have been maintaining that they will not allow the government to take the next step on the deal. At the meeting of the UPA-Left panel, the Leftists will reiterate their already known position.
���Nuclear energy has gained much importance in view of the steep rise in global oil prices,��� Ms Gandhi said while addressing a party rally in Guwahati. On Thursday, the CPM had described those backing the Indo-US nuclear deal as lackeys of the US.
This statement of Ms Gandhi, however, is no indication of a resolve to take on the Left on the nuke deal issue. Senior Congress leaders here said that the party was against any move that would anger the easy-to-offend Left.
That the political climate is quite trying for the Congress was clear when Ms Gandhi said rising inflation was the biggest challenge before the country. While the worst on inflation is yet to come, the government���s food policy is a cause of disquiet among farmers and consumers.
On her part, Ms Gandhi sought to pin the blame on international factors. She said the Centre had no other choice but to increase petrol prices and it was trying to shield people from additional burden. ���We had to increase the prices of petrol because of the surging global oil prices. There was no alternative. During the BJP���s time, international crude was $40 a barrel but now it is close to $140.���
Ms Gandhi defended the oil price hike saying the petrol and diesel prices in the country were cheaper than that in neighbouring countries and other parts of the world.
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The Left has already rejected the Congress��� argument that nuclear deal is critical to augment energy resources. ���Huge commercial orders running into thousands of crores of rupees for the purchase of nuclear reactors would be placed on the US firms. The profit bonanza to MNCs is there for all to see with the attendant benefits to sections of corporate India,��� the CPM had said.The Left leaders have been maintaining that they will not allow the government to take the next step on the deal. At the meeting of the UPA-Left panel, the Leftists will reiterate their already known position.
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