|
Manmohan speak on nuclear deal : The worm turns |
 |
B.I. Saini
The fault lines in the relations between the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left parties, whose support keeps the Manmohan Singh Government in power at the Centre, have come into the open with the Prime Minister’s challenge to the Left parties to withdraw support in the light of their total rejection of the India-US civilian nuclear deal. While the nuclear deal may have triggered the crisis, the differences between the Congress and the Left run deep. Over the past three years, the Left parties have been having their way on many political and economic issues, virtually having a veto on matters where they see their vital interests and constituencies involved.
The Left parties have succeeded in putting the disinvestment process on hold, even though the Congress-led UPA wants Government’s stake in the public sector to be diluted to provide funds for the social sector and infrastructure projects. They have also been coming in the way of rationalisation in the prices of petroleum products, resulting in virtual bleeding of the public sector oil companies.
On the political side, the most recent episode of the ascendancy of the Left was seen by the public in the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections. Most of the names in the select list of the Congress for the Presidency did not find favour with the Left on one ground or the other. The Left parties found fault with the Congress No.1 candidate for the Presidency Shivraj Patil on the ground that some time in the past, he had not taken a tough stand on dealing with communal elements. But they had no objection to his continuing as Union Home Minister. Veteran Congress leader Karan Singh’s name was rejected as he came from a princely family, even though his election as President would have sent a message globally, and especially, across the border to Pakistan, as he belongs to Jammu and Kashmir.
On the election of Vice President, the Left parties zeroed in on Mohd. Hamid Ansari, perhaps because of his anti-American line on West Asia matters, especially the Iran nuclear issue. This is not to say anything against his impeccable credentials as an academic and diplomat.
The Prime Minister’s plain talking about the nuclear deal and the Left’s attitude, in an interview with a Kolkata newspaper, has raised a political storm with questions being raised about how long the Government will survive, given the Left’s animosity. At the moment, neither the Congress nor the Left parties appear to be interested in widening the political breach. But no doubt a more bitter relationship between the two sides may be seen in times to come.
Dr. Manmohan Singh was quite forthright in his remarks in the Telegraph interview. He said that during his telephonic conversation with CPI(M)’s Prakash Karat and CPI’s A.B. Bardhan on August 7, he made it clear that it was not possible to re-negotiate the India-US civilian nuclear deal. In his words, “It is an honourable deal, the Cabinet has approved it, we cannot go back on it. I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it.”
The Prime Minister said in the interview that he was not angry, but anguished, at the harsh tone and tenor of the Left’s reaction to the nuclear deal and made it clear that the UPA-Left relationship could not be a one-sided affair. He said the Left also has to learn to work with the UPA.
While both sides are saying that they are not thinking of an immediate final parting of ways, there is no saying what turn the matter will take. This is clear from CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat’s statement on Saturday, August 11 that the Left parties will not accept the nuclear deal and that the Prime Minister and the Government must realise that this agreement is not acceptable to the majority in Parliament. Speaking during his visit to Kerala, Karat said so far as the approach to the Government is concerned, the Left parties will take their own counsel. He did not rule out any option. The Left parties are likely to decide their final strategy on the discussion on the nuclear deal in Parliament today, August 13, after Karat’s return from Kerala.
The crucial issue will be whether the Left parties go along with the BJP and the Third Front in pressing for a debate on the issue under a Motion which entails voting. There are mixed signals on the issue. While some in the Left parties say that they will not shy away from any decision in consonance with their stand on the nuclear deal, other voices in the Left do not want to be seen on the same platform as the BJP. Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu has said that the Left parties would walk out of Parliament in case of a vote on the nuclear deal. If this happens, the Manmohan Singh Government will be safe.
Congress leaders are naturally worried about the sharp reaction from the Left to the Prime Minister’s interview and damage control is already under way. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is insisting that there is no problem with the Left and both sides would be holding discussions soon.
After virtually issuing an ultimatum to the Left, the Prime Minister drew back a little bit on August 11 when he said the differences over the nuclear deal are not “insurmountable.” Dr. Manmohan Singh said that his statement in Parliament today, August 13, will address all concerns of the Left parties and he was confident that he would be able to convince them. Both Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have ruled out the possibility of a mid-term poll, saying that there was no danger to the Government. Developments in the next few days will determine whether their hopes come true or not.
|
