UPA in the cold as nuclear winter sets in

NEW DELHI: The ‘US-has-shifted-the-goal-post’ argument on Monday got fresh backing with the Left throwing its weight behind the Opposition, saying “the deal is not in India’s interest” and seeking a halt on further negotiations with Washington.

The Left, which had remained silent on the US legislation for the past two days, termed the US legislation as “unacceptable” as it “grossly violated” assurances made by the prime minister in Parliament. The party alleged that once again goal posts had been shifted, and going ahead with the deal on terms of the US legislation would undermine India’s independent foreign policy.

“We want the government to talk to the Bush administration and tell them what the US Congress passed is not exactly the July 18 agreement,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters on Monday.

In an attempt to mount pressure on Manmohan Singh government to take up the matter with Washington, the CPM has sought discussions in both Houses in the ongoing session of Parliament. This, Mr Karat said, would also send out a message to the US on domestic opinion concerning the deal.

The CPM’s confrontation with the government on this issue during the Monsoon session had a meek ending with the Left settling for a discussion in Parliament. During the course of the discussion, the prime minister had said that India would not accept a deal that is contrary to the terms agreed in the joint statement with the US.

The US legislation, Mr Karat said, has gone against the assurances given by the prime minister as it includes the provision of restrictions, trade regimes barring access to dual use nuclear technology denying India its full nuclear fuel cycle, annual good certification by the US president and India’s role being interwoven with US designs on Iran.

“The legislation talks of India’s foreign policy being congruent to that of the US. Instead of an India-specific additional protocol with the IAEA, US law calls for a modified additional protocol meant for non-nuclear weapon countries,” the CPM politburo said in a statement, which listed out the nine assurance given by the prime minister in the Rajya Sabha on August 17 in response to the nine concerns raised by the CPM.

It also said two new provisions — restricting alternative fuel supplies from friendly countries to conditions of market failures and barring any reserve other than normal operating reserves required to run Indian reactors — have been added.

Mr Karat further said the party wanted the government to explain how the legislation passed by US Congress was in accordance with the agreement between Mr Singh and Mr Bush. “The red lights have been put up. I don’t know if it can be turned to orange or green,” he added.

Asked what strategy the Left would adopt if the government went ahead with the deal, Mr Karat said, “Let’s have a discussion in Parliament and then we will see.” Refuting suggestions that the BJP and the Left were joining hands on the issue, the Marxist leader said “our areas of emphasis are very different”.

Alleging that “cosmetic” changes had been made but the content remained the same, Mr Karat said the law was being passed by an outgoing government and “when the next Democrat president comes, you may find screws being tightened on you”.