To save last mile, UPA gives comrades more than an inch

Both sides left unsaid what “operationalisation” means. Asked what did “operationalisation” mean, Mukherjee said, “Let it remain what it is.” Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s broad smile and a thumbs-up signal to reporters signalled that the crisis had been averted for the time being.

The government has maintained all along that operationalisation starts after the US Congress approves the Indo-US nuclear deal. The Left, however, contended that any further negotiations towards securing IAEA safeguards would be deemed as operationalisation.

Significantly, the joint statement did not have any mention of negotiations. The CPM Politburo statement on August 20 had read: “The Left parties can understand the setting up of a committee or any other mechanism which can go into the objections regarding the agreement and evaluating the implications of the Hyde Act for the nuclear cooperation deal. But this can follow only when the next step at the IAEA is not taken.”

There was no mention of the IAEA in today’s statement notwithstanding the Left leaders’ claim that the government had agreed to press the pause button on the deal. But Congress leaders maintained that the joint statement did not in any way prevent the government from going ahead with negotiations.

The committee will also look into “certain aspects of the agreement, the implications of the Hyde Act on the 123 agreement and self-reliance in the nuclear sector, the implications of the nuclear agreement on foreign policy and security cooperation,” the statement said.

The joint statement said that the composition of the committee would be announced shortly. It will be a 14-member committee, including six members drawn from the Left, and the remaining eight from the Congress, including one each from DMK, RJD and NCP, said sources. According to sources, on the basis of the joint statement, the government could go ahead with informal talks with the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group . As it is, the US will have to approach the NSG on India’s behalf. The government, sources added, is open to relevant inputs from the committee even before the final report is prepared.

The situation would get tricky if the India-specific safeguards agreement is listed at the IAEA Board meeting in November. But sources said this step could be staggered given that the formal signing of the IAEA safeguards agreement will happen only after US Congress’s approval.

Although no timeframe was set for the committee, both Congress and Left camps indicated that the committee could submit its report by September-end. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, however, expressed the hope that the government would be able to convince Left representatives in the committee on the merits of the deal.

“Most of their apprehension arises because of lack of knowledge about intricate details of the deal. Once they know, we are sure they (Left) will come around to accept the deal,” said a Congress leader. And that if this didn’t happen, the country could be staring at a mid-term election.

There were several rounds of back-channel negotiations between the Congress and the Left before they struck the agreement today. Mukherjee and Yechury were learnt to be closeted till midnight yesterday to reach some understanding. This morning, the PM, Pranab Mukherjee, Sonia Gandhi, Ahmad Patel had an hour-long meeting which was followed by a meeting between Yechury and Mukherjee. The Congress and Left leaders later met at the PM’s residence.

Half-full half-empty

Why Mr Karat has reason to be happy

• Mechanism was Left’s idea. From PM saying “if they want to leave, so be it,” to the joint statement is a climbdown

• The committee’s mandate addresses the Left’s principal objections: implication of the Hyde Act, impact of 123 agreement on Indian foreign policy etc

• Left leaders, despite not being in the government, get to have their say on issues that are, otherwise, strictly the preserve of the government

Why the UPA can claim success too

• Informal talks and consultations in IAEA and NSG can continue

• No commitment to apply brakes to the n-deal. Buys time, at least the next one or two months, crucial for initiating the next steps with IAEA and NSG.

• Averts crisis for the moment, keep both deal and govt alive

The O word: operationalisation

Left: Operationalisation means next steps, like IAEA negotiations.

UPA: Operationalisation happens when govt officially signs the 123 agreement, still a distance away

• Kept vague in today’s statement allowing the Left to claim victory and giving UPA the chance to keep the deal afloat.

What about the n-deal

• September largely involves informal interactions with IAEA and NSG, which UPA can do to take matters forward.

• India will try to keep negotiations alive through existing official channels with the IAEA than to announce formal negotiations.

• US can officially proceed to NSG on India’s behalf. India need not make any formal approach but will continue to lobby support.