Political numbers

The UPA Government and the Bush Administration have demonstrated political will and bureaucratic skill in closing the so-called 123 agreement, which defines the terms of resumed bilateral nuclear cooperation. A few more steps 8212; the conclusion of an 8216;India-specific8217; safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the approval of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the final sanction from the US Congress 8212; remain. But the momentum behind the nuclear deal now appears unstoppable. However, India8217;s impending nuclear liberation does not necessarily mean better politics over the issue.

That the BJP and CPM had roughly the same objections suggest it would be unwise to expect constructive reactions. The BJP has opposed a deal it was so desperate to clinch when it was in power. One would have expected the CPM to demonstrate a bit of consistency despite its blinkered view of the US. It was among the few who opposed Pokharan II in 1998 in the name of a principle. Now the CPM is against any responsible constraints on India8217;s nuclear weapon programme.

However, unlike the parliamentary monsoon session in 2006, when the government got into a funk in the face of combined onslaught from the BJP and the CPM, Manmohan Singh is now well positioned to take them on, either separately or even in combination. For one, the PM has a united scientific bureaucracy. Unlike last year when key governmental agencies were pulling in various directions, it is the unity of purpose that has produced the 123 agreement. Two, deal sceptics had fired their guns from the shoulders of the atomic energy community. They will now have to reckon with the fact that the DAE has been fully involved in the negotiations and its current leadership is on board. Above all, the PM has got a solid agreement that will measure up to the assurances he had given Parliament. What we now need is a Congress leadership that can celebrate political triumph, when it has one.