The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Crisis defused

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Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Crisis defused

The political crisis born out of the differences between the Congress and the Left parties over the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal drew to a happy end when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi ruled out early elections. Elections at this juncture would have been a big burden on the exchequer and the people. The Left’s concern that the deal would have strategically aligned India with the U.S. is understandable. Thankfully, all the parties displayed political maturity to defuse the crisis. The UPA has only emerged stronger.

Paresh Malakar,

Guwahati

* * *

The Congress turnaround can be seen as a long-term strategy. Had the nuclear deal been operationalised and the Left withdrawn support, the government would have fallen and the agreement would have been suspended. It is better that the pros and cons of the deal are debated extensively. In two years, when elections are due, society will be better informed.

Sqn Ldr B.G. Prakash,

Bangalore

* * *

After repeated proclamations of readiness to face mid-term elections if necessary, the Congress has climbed down from the high altar with the hope that the UPA government would complete its term. It has wisely realised that despite the booming economy, the aam admi’s life has not changed much. At present, no political party is sanguine about its victory in an election, timely or untimely. No merit, however big, of the nuclear deal would have been of any use to the Congress if it had failed to cling to power. Such is its concern for the country. Other parties are not much different either.

N.K. Das Gupta,

Kolkata

* * *

One wonders why no one is bothered about the systemic handicap of the Prime Minister in implementing his decisions. It is dangerous for a democracy to be controlled by a few minority groups.

V. Krishnan,

San Diego, California

* * *

After calling those opposed to the nuclear deal enemies of the Congress and development, one expected Ms. Gandhi to fight it out in favour of the deal even if it meant facing early elections.

P.S. Prasad,

Hyderabad

* * *

The negotiations on the nuclear deal at various levels, the Prime Minister’s defence of it in a noisy Parliament, scientists’ views, opposition to the deal by various parties, the UPA-Left mechanism to discuss specific aspects of the deal, the government’s refusal to seek a vote on it in Parliament, Ms. Gandhi’s assertion that those opposed to the deal are enemies of development — everything finally boiled down to the government putting the deal on hold for the time-being.

The whole exercise, it would seem, was carried out without adhering to proper democratic processes. What a waste of time and resources.

Gp. Capt. N. Neelakantan (retd.),

Bangalore

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