UPA, Left stick to their guns, play Hyde and seek
The government’s clarification on interrupted fuel supplies, termination clause and reprocessing technology didn’t cut much ice with the comrades. What added fuel to the fire was US’ prodding on Tuesday to fast-track the negotiations.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: As expected, the UPA and Left had another inconclusive meeting over the Indo-US nuclear deal. With three documents on the table — letters of disagreement exchanged between the two sides — and the 123 Agreement, 14 members of the peace panel tried to resolve the unresolvable.
The government’s plea of “don’t be afraid of the Hyde Act” had no takers in the Left which reiterated its “Hyde Act will dictate 123 Agreement” stand. After the two-hour meeting, which did not find a common meeting point on any of the concerns raised by the Left, the leaders decided to exchange more notes and meet again on October 5.
Just an hour before the meeting, the Left had sent a 12-page rejoinder to the government’s 12-page note. The government is expected to study this and send a reply by September 24, to which the Left may respond by October 2.
A statement issued after the meeting described the discussions as “constructive” even as the Left said it was “very difficult” for it to accept the government’s argument on the Hyde Act. The ruling side said once the 123 agreement was ratified, it would override all other laws, but the Left stuck to its position that it would affect India’s interests. The Left was also not impressed by the government’s explanation that India had achieved a “better” deal than China’s and Japan’s.
The clarification on uninterrupted fuel supplies, termination clause and reprocessing technology was also rejected by the comrades. External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Left leaders, who have been insisting on a debate in Parliament, that the government was never against a discussion on the issue and blamed the BJP for scuttling it. The meeting was attended by all members barring finance minister P Chidambaram.
Though the statement by US envoy David Mulford that “time was of the essence” did not figure in the meeting, Washington’s message to take early steps for implementation of the deal has only added fuel to the fire. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said earlier on Wednesday that it seemed like Washington was setting the time-table. CPI general secretary AB Bardhan saw it as a US pressure tactic. The Left leaders were interacting with reporters after a Left meeting to finalise its rejoinder to the government on the nuclear deal.
The CPM politburo, which also issued a statement, sought an explanation from the government whether it planned to adhere to the “time-frame” mentioned by Mr Mulford or examine the objections by a majority in Parliament. The US ambassador by talking of moving from 123 to 456 has set out “contours of comprehensive relationship” being forged with the US, the statement read. “The nuclear co-operation must not be seen in isolation from the wider strategic alliance being forged with the US,” it stated.
The next meeting will be held a day after Mr Mukherjee returns from the US for the UN general assembly summit. The Left, in its first note to the government, had sought a series of clarifications on issues ranging from the Hyde Act to economic viability of the nuclear deal.
The government’s plea of “don’t be afraid of the Hyde Act” had no takers in the Left which reiterated its “Hyde Act will dictate 123 Agreement” stand. After the two-hour meeting, which did not find a common meeting point on any of the concerns raised by the Left, the leaders decided to exchange more notes and meet again on October 5.
Just an hour before the meeting, the Left had sent a 12-page rejoinder to the government’s 12-page note. The government is expected to study this and send a reply by September 24, to which the Left may respond by October 2.
A statement issued after the meeting described the discussions as “constructive” even as the Left said it was “very difficult” for it to accept the government’s argument on the Hyde Act. The ruling side said once the 123 agreement was ratified, it would override all other laws, but the Left stuck to its position that it would affect India’s interests. The Left was also not impressed by the government’s explanation that India had achieved a “better” deal than China’s and Japan’s.
The clarification on uninterrupted fuel supplies, termination clause and reprocessing technology was also rejected by the comrades. External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Left leaders, who have been insisting on a debate in Parliament, that the government was never against a discussion on the issue and blamed the BJP for scuttling it. The meeting was attended by all members barring finance minister P Chidambaram.
Though the statement by US envoy David Mulford that “time was of the essence” did not figure in the meeting, Washington’s message to take early steps for implementation of the deal has only added fuel to the fire. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said earlier on Wednesday that it seemed like Washington was setting the time-table. CPI general secretary AB Bardhan saw it as a US pressure tactic. The Left leaders were interacting with reporters after a Left meeting to finalise its rejoinder to the government on the nuclear deal.
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The CPM politburo, which also issued a statement, sought an explanation from the government whether it planned to adhere to the “time-frame” mentioned by Mr Mulford or examine the objections by a majority in Parliament. The US ambassador by talking of moving from 123 to 456 has set out “contours of comprehensive relationship” being forged with the US, the statement read. “The nuclear co-operation must not be seen in isolation from the wider strategic alliance being forged with the US,” it stated.
The next meeting will be held a day after Mr Mukherjee returns from the US for the UN general assembly summit. The Left, in its first note to the government, had sought a series of clarifications on issues ranging from the Hyde Act to economic viability of the nuclear deal.
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