Now, Left talks about consensus on nuke deal

After praising PM Manmohan Singh's integrity, the CPI did not rule out the possibility of consensus on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

After praising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s integrity, the CPI did not rule out the possibility of consensus on the Indo-US nuclear deal and said it depends on what action the government takes.

“I don’t rule out the possibility of finding a consensus. It depends upon what steps the government takes. After all, it is not a one-issue or a one-party government but a coalition,” CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said when asked whether a consensus was possible between the UPA and Left on the nuclear issue.

To a question what would be the next step for the Left parties on the issue, he said, “the CPI National Council has authorised the National Executive and Central Secretariat to take appropriate decisions in consultation with the other Left parties.”

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Asked whether the response of the CPI and the Left parties would be ‘tough’ against the government after the November 16 meeting of the UPA-Left Committee on the issue, he said, “it all depends on what the government’s response is.”

Bardhan accused the US of ‘rushing to India’ its high officials and diplomats to ‘pressurise the government and the BJP’ to go ahead with the deal.

“Never have I seen such high officials descending on the country to persuade. Some times there are allurements, sometime threats and sometime blackmail,” he said, adding ‘but our political parties are capable of withstanding this and strengthen our democratic process’.

“The party is of the firm opinion that the deal is not in the national interest. The National Council held that India is being dragged into US global strategy. The US intention is to make India a strategic partner and its military ally,” the CPI leader said.

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Noting that American multinationals and the military-industrial complex were looking at India as lucrative market for nuclear reactors, technology and warplanes, he said, “from 123 agreement, they look forward to the 126 aircraft deal”.

Government has issued a contract to buy 126 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

To a question about CPM general secretary Prakash Karat hailing the Prime Minister for his ‘unquestioned integrity’, Bardhan said no Left party had ever questioned his personal integrity. “He is a thorough gentleman about whose honesty there is no question or doubt. The dispute is over issues, the policies that are being pursued.”

Asked about the Prime Minister having dared Left parties to withdraw support to government on the nuclear issue, he said, “we don’t decide our stand on what the Prime Minister had said earlier, but on the basis of the text of the 123 Agreement, its context and its consequences”.

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To questions regarding a debate on the nuclear issue in Parliament, Bardhan said the sense of the House should be ascertained and taken into account by the government.

On whether the party favoured voting on the issue, he said the Lok Sabha Speaker has already ruled that there could be no discussion under a rule which entails voting. “The sense of the House should be taken as a vote”.

The veteran leader hailed the unity of the Left parties on the nuclear deal and said this should be carried forward.