For the first time since he took charge three years ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has dared the Left to “withdraw support” after its sustained attack on the Indo-US nuclear deal. He’s also sent a stinging rebuff to the Left’s claim that India is bartering its sovereignty to the United States: The Left, he said, was “underestimating the intrinsic strength of India, of India’s capacity to defend its national interests.Look at Vietnam, look at China (the way they are engaging with America) — out of fear of dealing with the US, we cannot become a frog in the well.” These remarks, in an interview to The Telegraph published today, constitute the strongest signal so far from an increasingly exasperated Government and party that the time may have come to draw the line when it comes to UPA-Left relations even if that entails putting the fate of the government on the line — for, given the 63 MPs it has today, Left withdrawal means the collapse of the UPA. “I told them (CPM’s Prakash Karat and CPI’s A B Bardhan) that it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. 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,” Singh was quoted as having said. “I don’t get angry, I don’t want to use harsh words. They are our colleagues and we have to work with them. But they also have to learn to work with us.” Reacting to this, Karat, who is in Kerala trying to douse his own intra-party fires, issued a terse statement reiterating his opposition to the nuclear deal. Pointing out that a majority in Parliament is opposed to the deal — the BJP and the comrades are on the same side on the issue — he sidestepped the “withdraw-support” dare by saying: “As far as the approach to the government is concerned, we will take our own counsel.” As for the PM himself, on the sidelines of the Vice-President’s swearing-in this evening, he once again said that the nuclear deal was “non-negotiable” — adding that treaties are not negotiated like rabbits out of a hat — but sugar-coated his earlier swipe: “It (his remark that if the Left withdraw support, so be it) was a conditional statement.we will resolve all issues amicably.” Congress president Sonia Gandhi, too, echoed this. Asked if the party was preparing for a snap poll, she said, “No, no, no.” The PM, too, did not see any possibility of snap polls: “Why do you think so? Where is the question of a mid-term poll?” As for a dialogue with the Left, he said, “There are still 48 hours (for his Monday statement in Parliament on the deal). We are all colleagues and all these things can be resolved.” But Singh’s remarks seemed to have had their desired effect. Many of his Cabinet and Congress colleagues have welcomed his statement. With the Left tying the government’s hands on all policy issues (see box), they said, the impression was that the Left had hijacked the government. “Gandhigiri kab tak? He had to tell the Left thus far and no farther,” said a Cabinet Minister. “The Prime Minister himself and other government’s spokespersons have put forward the government’s point of view in categorical terms in Parliament. Whatever doubts people had about the nuclear deal were addressed. Yet, if people continue to oppose it, the Prime Minister has to draw a line,” Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told The Sunday Express. Pointing out the Left’s one-upmanship, an AICC general secretary close to 10, Janpath said, “The High Command is 101 per cent with the PM on this. When the Congress Working Committee has taken a stand, how can we go back on it? Before going public with their rejection of the draft agreement, the Left should have discussed it with the Congress President or sought to use the UPA-Left coordination mechanism.” “It was not the single issue of the nuclear deal. The Left wanted to change the direction of this government entirely. While Iran has consistently supported Pakistan in international forums, the Left wants the UPA government to sacrifice energy security of the country for Iran. When we need to join hands with the US and Europe on the issue of terror, the Left wants us to take guidance from China. You find similarly impractical and illogical ideas from the Left on economic issues as well. How long can you tolerate it?” said another Cabinet Minister. “I think the PM has stated the factual position. In the given circumstances nothing more could have been done beyond whatever deal was done,” said Union Minister Subodhkant Sahay. “They were criticizing the deal. If we did not say anything (in response to Left’s criticism), people would say we are surrendering to the Left,” said his ministerial colleague Santosh Mohan Dev. For the record, the party backed the PM choosing not to salt the Left’s wound. “Whatever the PM has said is enough. We have nothing to add beyond that,” said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. The Left supports this Government, and how DIPLOMACY • Opposed to any engagement with United States, particulary in defence and security. • Protested against Bush’s visit, didn’t allow him to address the House • Wants n-deal scrapped • Opposed govt decision to vote against Iran in IAEA, backed Shia protest rally in Lucknow • Opposed Indo-US exercise, will oppose naval exercises next month between India, Australia, US, Japan and Singapore • Opposes FDI, in principle, but not when it came to China ECONOMICS • Blocked insurance reforms, that include raising FDI limit to 49% from 26%, leaving sector starved for investments needed to expand insurance cover to India’s hugely underinsured • Stalled Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority Bill, meaning savings of new govt employees under New Pension Scheme remain uninvested for almost three years. This despite the fact that almost all states except the three Left-ruled states joined NPS • Constant pressure to stall PSU stake sales even though govt promised that a quarter of the proceeds will be re-invested in ailing PSUs and the bulk will go to fund social sector projects — both pet Left causes. • Organised protests against privatisation of Delhi, Mumbai airports; managed to keep Kolkata with AAI • Opposed to Bill to open higher-education to foreign universities POLITICS • Rejected all frontline candidates of Congress. Finally, agreed to last-minute choice Pratibha Patil • Decided who Vice-President will be
