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Journalism of Courage
The CPIM on Monday said it was discussing the timing of withdrawing support to the UPA, as it felt the Prime Minister was determined to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal. The move comes a day after the CPIM formally announced its decision to pull the plug if the Government approaches the IAEA Board of Governors.
CPIM sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier said that he would not attend the G-8 summit in Japan on July 7 if there was no consensus on the nuclear deal. 8220;Now it looks like he is going to attend the summit, which clearly shows the Government8217;s intention to go to the Board of Governors of the IAEA to get the India-specific safeguards agreement approved,8221; the sources said.
The CPI and the Forward Bloc are also expected to take decision on the same lines at a meeting to be held here on July 3. The UNPA would also meet on the same day to take their stand on the issue.
The Prime Minister, however, said the nuclear deal was not on the agenda at the Tokyo summit and sought not to attach much importance to the Left threats. 8220;There is nothing new in what the Left parties have said. I have not given up hope still,8221; he said when asked about the CPIM Politburo8217;s decision. In all likelihood, any decision to withdraw support to the Government would come after the meetings, sources in the Left said.
While the Congress worked overtime to seek Samajwadi Party8217;s support to bail the Government out of the crisis, the Prime Minister continued his campaign for the deal and made it clear that he was prepared to face Parliament before operationalising the deal. He, however, did not foresee the prospect of early elections despite the Left8217;s obduracy on the deal.
Singh said all that he wanted was that the government should be allowed to complete the negotiation process with the nuclear watchdog and the NSG. 8220;We will grapple with that stage when we come to it,8221; he had said on Sunday when asked about the threat held out by Karat. He said the Government would be able to address concerns of all, including those of the Left parties, on the civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the US. 8220;I hope we can work out8230;we can still work out an outcome that would satisfy all parties,8221; he said.
8220;I am not asking for something that the Government should not be doing. I am only saying you allow me to complete the negotiations. There are concerns. I agree to come to Parliament before I proceed to operatioanalise the deal. What can be more reasonable than this,8221; he had said.
He said the BJP and the Left parties will have an opportunity to discuss the deal in Parliament. 8220;If Parliament feels you government have done some wrong, so be it,8221; Singh said.
8220;All that I want is the authority to proceed with the process of negotiations through all stages like the IAEA and NSG that will not tie down the hands of the country,8221; he added.
He parried a question on the speculation about his attending the G-8 summit in Tokyo saying the nuclear deal was not on the agenda there. He laughed off a suggestion that he would be more comfortable attending the G-8 if the issue was resolved before his departure.
The Prime Minister8217;s fresh bid to push the deal, however, made no difference to the Left stand. 8220;There is nothing new in the Prime Minister8217;s assurance. We stand by our politburo decision,8221; Karat said.
8220;This is Government8217;s old stand. We will come back after going to IAEA and NSG, but we say don8217;t go to IAEA. If they do, we will withdraw support,8221; CPIM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said.
He said the Prime Minister has time and again given statements about coming back to the Parliament after completing the processes like signing safeguards agreement with IAEA, getting waiver from NSG and endorsement by the US Congress. 8220;But at that time, it will be more difficult to stop the agreement.
They will say the whole world is in favour of the deal,8221; Yechury said.
