Indo-US N- deal: National Interest vs. Ideology
Posted : August 22, 2007 at 9:03 am [IST]
Manmohan Singh government is suddenly in crisis. Leftists have given its warning to stop going any further on nuclear deal with US or face the consequences. The lack of political consensus on nuclear deal with US has already done the damage. Many feel Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi would have been in better position if they had been in constant dialogue with BJP, shaking off their ego, on this issue. How can the other nation take India seriously when its government is facing such a crisis because of the ideology of leftists on whom Sonia depended to run the government and opportunistic maneuvers of the main opposition party that had initiated the breakthrough in Indo-US relations? Even a new government after election, if held, will find it almost impossible to go ahead with the deal unless the electorate brings back Congress and its allies in power in clear majority, which is doubtful. Manmohan and his team certainly did a creditable work to get the deal in place and they deserve credit too. The scientists’ community is for the deal agreed and so are the heads, present and past of Atomic Energy Agency.
The media are agog with the negativity of leftists with many self-explaining headlines: ‘The government appeals to the leftists for not taking any precipating action, but to hear to it on N-deal’. ‘Experts say, left is helping China, and Pakistan’. ‘China is already miffed as India goes ahead with strengthening ties with Japan, Australia, and US’. ‘Experts are against calling off deal as it will isolate India globally’, and if we go by them, ‘the deal is essential to counter China’s might in Asia’. ‘India’s credibility will take big hit if deal is nuked. Interlocutors will have no faith, knowing govt can’t defend pact at home.’ Many columnists have come out with the real story behind the leftists’ insistence to damage the deal. Many claim that the leftists are helping China and Pakistan who would be the happiest if the deal drowns in turbulent political water of India. Let us see what the lead articles of Hindustan Times and Times of India on August 21, 2007, says:
“It is not without significance that the vigorous campaign of the Left parties against the Indo-US agreement and against the growing strategic interactions between India and the US has coincided with the beginning of the Chinese campaign against the so-called ‘quadrilateral strategic interaction’ involving India, Japan, the US and Australia, and the naval exercise with the additional involvement of the Singapore Navy.”- From “The Manchurian candidates” by B.Raman in Hindustan Times
” Sections of the government believe that the Left’s campaign against the Indo-US nuclear deal is inspired by Beijing. China is reportedly unsettled by India’s growing strategic ties with the US and next month’s planned joint naval exercise with the US, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal. The Chinese sent a demarche to all participants wanting to know the nature of the exercises. When the Left raised the ante on the Indo-US pact, the Chinese media reported and commented on the events; this was considered a first because the Chinese media hardly ever focuses on India. - Chinese whispers by Rajiv Desai in Times of India
According to all the polls by media, more than 90% of the responses from the people are favouring the deal. How can the politicians or more correctly parliamentarians be so away from the people?
Leftists are anti-America since ages. To many, and me leftists today are nearer to China rather than India. They have been against many national movements in pre-independence era too. The biggest danger today to the nation is from Maoists or Naxals, who work on ideologies evolved from the one of the same leftists. In communists’ states, the Chinese are winning the projects and getting the foothold, even though their quality and efficiency of the equipment are under suspicion.
Let us decide about the first thing first. Between the ideology and national interest, what must come first? Naturally the national interest. But for the leftists, the single reason to oppose nuclear deal is that it will bring India nearer to US. Leftists don’t want that, China does not want that to happen. A close US-India relation will affect China’s bigger game plan to rule the world.
Is there any other alternative today but to go nearer to US through this deal, when all the developed nations including Russia and China are doing that? Will the other nuclear nations be of any significant assistance to India in nuclear programme if US doesn’t sponsor India’s case? Is India strong enough as China is, to stand on its own? Do leftist want India to move nearer to China? Will it be in national interest when we know that China is already surrounding India with its unethical friendship moves and gestures with India’s neighbours? China has all along been supporting and encouraging Pakistan. It is even facilitating the anti-Indian feelings to spread in Myanmar, Bangla Desh and Nepal. It is dumping its goods in the Asian market. It is alluring all the Asian countries by increasing bilateral trades and African countries by aids. It is going after procuring all the energy resources all over the world.
Congress would have understood Leftists before it formed the government with its support. However, as it seems the honeymoon is over. If leftists are equally concerned about the interest of the nation, I and many like me, will not be able to appreciate the leftists move to press for abandoning the nuclear deal that provides an opportunity to remove many years of isolation from the scientific community of the advanced nations. I am sure beside the political aspect of the deal an in-depth study of the legal, scientific and long-term foreign policy aspects require the help from the experts on the subject. Why can’t leftists agree to go by the advices of such a group instead of getting the future of the country decided by a group of people who are essentially politicians who are considered people of below average intelligence by many studies?
As it appear the country is going to have another mid-term poll. The composition of the parliament even after the election will produce only an equally vulnerable government. But will the two national political parties be united in unmasking the real face of leftists who are holding the nation away from becoming a developed nation faster? Leftists as well as regional political parties with local agenda are to go out of the scene or transform significantly. The sooner the people of India realize this, the better it will be for the nation.
Let God save India from leftists, as they don’t believe in God.
- Indra
Category: Indian politics |
3 Comments »
Following comments appeared in patnadaily.com:
Comments:
I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Indra about the leftists in India. These people (Karat, Yechuri et al) are cancer to the Indian society and should not be given any importance in the Indian political system. It’s a pity a majority of the Indian population does not see through their evil design and allows them to ruin the country for their own political survival. - Anil Kumar - Aug. 23, 2007
We Indians rise early morning with many grumpy and happy faces. One such grumpy face belongs to “left” taking morning walk on stinking pedestrians, garbage filled parks reaching via chaotic traffic at roads while blaming “United States of America” for the same and at the same time — unable to check their loved ones visiting/studying/ residing in the same west. Self-centric hate may be the part of communistic democracy. It is nothing but a sheer hypocrisy. But I am surprised to see the reaction of the “rightists” who do not understand as “opportunists” what is written between the lines of 123 N-deal. Searching previous form of opportunity into this N-deal is going to backfire, once mid-term (2008) or general election (2009) is held under these circumstances. Although common mass does not understand the 123 N-deal because vernacular press initially has not given sufficient coverage writing specific pluses or minuses. I feel that young voters (urban and rural) are going to strike hard silently on this particular issue in coming election due to the ongoing political tussles, broad media converge and changing perception of younger generation.
Besides many agreements, one such agreement will provide 20,000 MW electricity from this N-deal by 2020. To live in a better condition one has to find out and/or to show the path of innovation against lantern age or simply follow the path shown by others in the form of coal-based, gas-based, and nuclear-based technology. Falling and freezing nuclear deal will make Bihar a significant loser amongst all states, where the power situation can get better as early/quickly as possible through nuclear power plants. Moreover, under current situation, Bihar and/or entire India has no chance to place herself in the field of renewable energy research program such as solar cell, Bio-mass, Wind energy etc.
At least Laloo’s lantern will be glowing in our cities and villages in coming years. For Congress, it is a time for either compromise or start a NAYA DAUR. - Dr. Sudhir Ranjan, USA - Aug. 23, 2007
Posted by: Indra at August 23, 2007 @ 9:34 am
From patnadaily.com
I have been reading comments on left’s stand on India’s proposed N deal with US with much amusement. Let us accept one thing first that democracy comes as a complete package and dissent and divergence of opinion is a core ingredient of democracy. We can not wish it away even if it looks inconvenient at times. In fact that is a sign is of a vibrant democracy (which most agree ours is). If we agree on this then any decision making has to go through pulls and pressures of various lobbies. A final decision on any vital issue has to withstand the scrutiny of all ideological shades of which Indian parliament displays resplendently and in abundance.
Recent demonizing of left on this issue in my opinion is sinning them more than they actually might have. The very being of left is based on opposition to capitalism and
associated (perceived) notions of its exploitative nature. US is today greatest symbol of capitalism and its triumph. Antagonism towards US in parties with left moorings is understandable in that sense. Indian left is no exception. And they are very consistent with that. In case of Indian communists they have legitimacy of being part of parliamentary democracy. They have been sent to Indian parliament with their known stand on many issues. At least they have a consistent view point and worldview. In contrast to that there are our friends from right in the parliament whose stand is ludicrous on this issue to say the least. BJP’s amazing volte face on this issue can only invite contempt. They were initiators of nuclear deal and now are opposing it and raising all kinds of alarms. It is even so when the current draft is much more refined in India’s favor (thanks to hard bargain of Manmohan Singh’s govt at times spurred by left’s constant objections! and America’s increasing eagerness to win India as an ally in its grand strategic plans).
The opposition of left towards 123 deal does not seem to be as much against the civil nuclear co-operation aspect as it is towards its apprehensions of the compromises India will have to make on its independent foreign policy. For example on the same larger future energy security issue (of which this 123 agreement is one part) India wants to have direct gas pipeline from Iran. India has been advised and cautioned (can be read as - attempted to be pressurized) against that as in American assessment Iran is a rouge state and should be treated as pariah. If left wants Indian govt to ensure that we should not be vulnerable on other counts due to any deal which we enter with US on nuclear issue it is not as unpatriotic as some are trying to attribute to them. There are after all sections in US policy making bodies who are crying full throated foul on concessions granted to India on 123 deal. But no one is accusing them there as being unpatriotic for that, even though they might be appearing to be throwing spanner in the improving relationship of US with India which is an important element in their future strategy of counter balancing a rising China. I think we should see the left’s objections and related development on 123 deal as a tribute to healthy and functioning Indian democracy which is validating this issue (which is vital to its future and has long lasting ramifications) from all angles.
Govt of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, however, can not be faulted on not having consultations with various sections of political opinion in India on this vital issue. At every crucial stage incumbent govt has tried to take the parliament in to confidence. However prime minister Singh can be faulted on uncharacteristically upping the ante on this issue by publicly going with take it or leave it stand. That has left very little room for left to maneuver on this issue. Little more tact and back room discussions would have saved the threat that looms on continuation of this government.
An election at this time would be absolutely undesirable and avoidable. There are still chances that better counsel will prevail on all sides and some face saving formula will be found out on this difficult issue. However if country has to go to polls on this issue at least there would be a silver lining that we would be going to polls on a very real and futuristic issue of our energy security. Believers of god in past have thrusted elections on this country with heavy scars of one section pitted against another either in the name of religion or caste. Let us see how things turn out when non-believers have taken a hardened position on an issue. - Abhishek Kumar, Chennai - Aug. 23, 2007
Posted by: Indra at August 23, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
From patnadaily.com:
Dear Mr. Kumar, please allow me to humbly differ from you on some issues.
While I have no intention of defending the right (read BJP) on their stand on this 123 deal (Congress, BJP – what’s the difference?), I don’t see how can you defend the left parties when they have done absolutely nothing in the last 60 years except to prove a huge hurdle in the development of the nation and giving birth to extremism in the form of Naxalite and Maoist movements. Please tell us what the left group has done to make the country economically stronger. Besides being a perpetual nuisance to the country, what are their contributions in nation building? Raising awareness among the poor? Helping poor economically? If that was the case there would not be a single poor in India by now. Or could it be teaching the poor how to take up arms against their own people, government, or in other words, terrorism?
Just because there are enough ignorant/illiterate people in the land of 1 billion who continue to be fooled by the leftist ideologies and send them to the Parliament each election year still does not justify their skewed political thoughts.
The specter of ‘foreign hand’ (read America) is an old, worn-out strategy employed by the leftist loons and is designed to keep India a third-world nation because a prosperous India will mean the natural death of such radical, and dare I say useless, forces otherwise known as the Communists. The ‘foreign hand’ strategy worked in the bygone Cold War era but now the time has changed – even the Russians have realized that now.
I agree with Mr. Indra when he says that “for the leftists, the single reason to oppose nuclear deal is that it will bring India nearer to US. Leftists don’t want that, China does not want that to happen. A close US-India relation will affect China’s bigger game plan to rule the world.” He is right on the mark.
India cannot afford to coddle these leftists if it wants to rise above the humiliating title of being a ‘Third World Country’. This is not to say that India has to toe the line with America. Far from it! India can learn from America’s mistakes and avoid making those mistakes. That’s the sign of a matured democracy but I see absolutely no redeeming value in patronizing the Communists who have been a menace and a major detrimental force in the development of the nation since they came into existence. - Anil Kumar - Aug. 24, 2007
Posted by: Indra at August 24, 2007 @ 5:10 am
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