Left's Right Turn!

These are interesting times. The Left, which was supporting the Congress-led UPA government from outside finally withdrew support over the civilian nuclear deal with US. While the ostensible reason given for the move was attributed to the Hyde's Act, which makes the US government terminate cooperation with India in the event of latter exploding a nuclear device, the real parting of ways came when the govt. decided to approach the IAEA with India-specific safeguards agreement. The CPM declared that it would stop the deal with US at any cost even if it meant voting along with its arch-enemy and "communal " BJP to topple the government. It did not matter if other communist states like Russia had declared the deal to be good for India or China itself had signed a much-less favorable 123 agreement with US. Nor did the Left's opposition take into account the fact that we now live in a unipolar world and it is virtually impossible not to do any business with US.

The BJP off course has other reservations. Its spokesperson said in a televised debate that it can consider the deal friendly only if India was free to go for Pokhran III. In other words, we should merrily go on exploding nuclear weapons while enjoying the latest nuclear technology imports from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). It hawkish stand also overlooks the fact that post-Pokhran II, we faced sanctions, which affected our nuclear power plants adversely and lead to Pakistan first acquiring and then trading nuclear weapon technology with other states like North Korea. It was also the nuclear statues of Pakistan, which made our forces stay for months eye to eye on the border during the Kargil conflict without resorting even to conventional warfare. Those with a better memory would recollect that it was the fierce US diplomatic effort, which made us observe a ceasefire for 72 hours providing a safe passage to Pakistanis occupying hill top positions. Pokhran II did confer upon us a nuclear weapon status. But its negative fall out can not be ignored. In any case, after the BJP-led NDA govt. declared a unilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing and with our experts, including the former President Dr.Kalam, certifying that we do not need any more real tests, rejecting civilian deal on this ground makes little sense.

Therefore one has to conclude with regret that there is merit in the observation that opposition to the deal is ideological on Left's part and political on BJP's. It is not based on merits. The tactical alliance between the Left and Right is illogical and must be decried unequivocally.