To give its political decision of supporting the UPA the stamp of “national-interest” legitimacy, the Samajwadi Party today armed itself with a ringing endorsement of the Indo-US nuclear deal from former President A P J Abdul Kalam.The SP’s Kalam announcement came hours after it got its allies in the UNPA to climb down from their strident opposition to the deal to saying they were ready for a “national debate.” While these allies — TDP, INLD, AGP and the Jharkhand Vikas Party — stay opposed to the deal, they watched in awkward silence as SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said: “I can assure you that the UNPA will not take any step that will go against the national interest. The UNPA will also not do anything that will strengthen the communal forces (BJP) in the country.” All the UNPA members, except the SP, have been associated with the NDA and all supported Kalam for a second term as President as well.When Kalam had approved the deal, the BJP had distanced itself calling it his “personal opinion.”“We had gone to seek the advice of former President Abdul Kalam, who is also a respected scientist, on the clarifications to our apprehensions provided by the PMO yesterday,” said Mulayam after his meeting with Kalam.“According to his advice, the nuclear deal is in the very best national interest of the country and it should be kept above political interests. We will take this view to our friends in the UNPA and a final decision will be taken in light of his advice,” Mulayam said.Regarding apprehensions over India’s right to conduct nuclear tests after the deal, Kalam, Amar Singh said, told them “if other neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China make nuclear weapons, we will not be bound to the extent that we cannot scrap the deal for the sake of the nation.”On concerns over nuclear sovereignty, Kalam told them India had conducted five nuclear blasts and does not need to carry out tests again and again. “We are a nuclear weapon state and we don’t need to behave like any other country. In fact, we should have been in the NSG as a nuclear weapon state. Kalam said NSG is a grouping of 45 countries and not US alone and till we develop thorium-based plants (which will take 15-20 years), any one of these particular countries can supply uranium to us,” Singh said.Kalam’s stand gives SP a credible face-saver given its own public opposition to the deal in the past. That opposition was echoed by UNPA allies today but was certainly watered down. Sources said the key conclusion of the UNPA meeting was to let members keep “all options open” given their regional political compulsions.“The UNPA has decided to have a national debate on the issue of nuclear debate,” said UNPA convener and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. “Only after a national debate we will be able to decide whether the government should go ahead on the nuclear deal or not. It is for the government to initiate the national debate. Till July 6, we will not be able to give our clearance on this deal,” said INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala.But when it came to Mulayam and Amar Singh, there was a clear indication of support to the Government if and when the need arises. “Communalism is the biggest threat, bigger than the nuclear deal.” Asked if that meant he was supporting the Government, he said: “Let the UPA and the Left divorce happen, where is the need for us to spell out our stand?” It was clear from the discomfort visible from the gestures of UNPA leaders Chautala, Chandrababu Naidu, AGP’s Brindaban Goswami and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha’s Babulal Marandi that they had agreed to disagree on the issue. The UNPA decided to seek the views of “eminent scientists” on the deal. Subsequently, in the evening Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav went to meet Kalam at his residence. “There is speculation in the media about Amar Singh dealing with Congress, Naidu hobnobbing with the Left and me having a truck with the BJP. I must tell you, we are not going to join any other force in the country. We remain united,” announced Chautala after the meeting.
