While Indian interlocutors are in the final stage of negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for India-specific safeguards, the UPA government is working on a slim window of opportunity to push the nuclear deal given the Left’s support for civil nuclear cooperation with China, Russia and France.Since nuclear cooperation with these countries is incumbent on clearance from the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), the UPA government wants the Left to allow it to go to the NSG after the completion of IAEA talks, according to Congress sources. While the Left remains opposed to 123 Agreement, the government is set to seek its support to facilitate nuclear cooperation with China, Russia and France, said sources.An indication of this strategy came in an editorial note in the latest issue of Congress Sandesh: “The Prime Minister’s successful visit to China has proved once again that India has evolved a strong and independent foreign policy Those who accused the Prime Minister of following a pro-American policy and have made a huge issue of the Indo-US relationship encircling China should examine their postures in the light of China’s willingness to carry out civilian nuclear cooperation with India if we are able to put in place a nuclear agreement with the IAEA and the NSG.”The Left was guarded in its response when asked whether it will allow the government to go to the NSG, which is required for any agreement for nuclear cooperation with China, Russia and France.“Who is stopping India from entering into an agreement with China or Russia or France? There is nothing like Hyde Act with them. The question of going to IAEA or NSG does not arise because it is just a statement. Where is the agreement? We have already said that we will not allow the 123 Agreement to go through,” a top CPM leader told The Indian Express today.Official sources said that the Left would be asked to allow some flexibility to the government to enter into civil nuclear cooperation with other countries whose eagerness for it was evident from the deliberations during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia last November and to China this month as also from talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week.
