New Delhi, July 10
Traditional political adversaries, the Left Front and the BJP-led opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) found common ground here on Thursday as they vent their ire at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his UPA government in the context of the Indo-US nuclear deal issue.
Speaking on behalf of the NDA, Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani questioned the Prime Minister on the same issues as CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan.
The Left leaders felt the Prime Minister had betrayed and deceived the nation by going to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors with the nuclear safeguards agreement when his government had been reduced to a minority.
They also felt cheated saying while the text of the proposed agreement was not shown to the Left parties it was put out and circulated internationally.
Advani specifically mentioned how the government refused to show the document to the Left. He regretted that, “This government has made our country a laughing stock in the international community by denying to the people of India and Parliament access to the text, but allowing websites all over the world to display it for all to see.”
He said, “The NDA feels the country has been betrayed by this deceitful attitude of the Prime Minister. It is sad that a categorical statement of foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee has to be violated with such impunity.” Advani was referring to Pranab’s assurance that the government would first seek a vote of confidence before going to the IAEA. He demanded that the Prime Minister either resign or seek a vote of confidence.
He said, “In order to quell any further horse-trading by a desperate government and the possibility that crippling compromises be made with the national interests, it is essential that Parliament be convened immediately so that the inept, corrupt and malleable government’s betrayal of the people’s trust can be exposed before the nation.”
Advani was confident that the government would be defeated
on the floor of the House. Asked about the possibility of floor coordination with the Left, he said, “Floor coordination is not needed. Let there be an early vote and I am confident that the government will be defeated on the floor of the House.”
Karat said on behalf of all the four left parties, “We are going to fight the nuclear deal at every step. It does not just mean managing Parliament numbers alone. We have faith in the people and we will make it impossible for the government to get this deal through.”
Incidentally, while Karat certified that, “We have no reason to doubt the integrity of Pranab Mukherjee,” Bardhan remarked, “The position of Mukherjee has become untenable. Twice he has made solemn commitment to us that has been overruled by the Prime Minister. So I think his position in the government has become untenable,” Bardhan said.
The Left described as “Nothing but shocking” the government act of denying access of the text to the Left and displaying on American and other international websites. Karat called this a betrayal of not just the Left parties but the country and people of India.
He recalled how hours before this, Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily had equated the exposure of the text amounting to nuclear terrorism and said, “While he was saying this the text was being given to the IAEA secretariat.”
