The Hindu : New Delhi News : Congress banks on October 22 meeting

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Friday, Oct 19, 2007
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New Delhi

Congress banks on October 22 meeting

Gargi Parsai

We are discussing among ourselves how to narrow down differences: party spokesman

Party says it is the duty of the government to take into confidence all the alliance partners
“The deal is in the interest of the nation that will benefit in terms of power generation”

NEW DELHI: The Congress has asserted that the India-United States nuclear deal was not in the “cold storage” and attempts would continue to address the concerns of the supporting parties which could go beyond the October 22 United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left nuclear committee meeting.

The party dismissed as “speculation” reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh planned to resign “hurt” by the behaviour of the “allies” on the deal.

“Not in cold storage”

“The deal is not in cold storage. It is very much in the offing and we are discussing amongst ourselves on how to narrow down the differences. On October 22, there will be another UPA-Left meeting and hopefully something fruitful will emerge,” said All India Congress Committee spokesman and Minister of State Shakeel Ahmed at a party briefing here.

Asked about the Prime Minister’s recent talk with U.S. President George Bush on “certain difficulties” in going ahead with the deal, Dr. Shakeel said Dr. Singh might have expressed the difficulties (in operationalising the deal) but it was not correct to say that the deal had been put on hold or was on the back burner.

Asked to comment on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s statement on the part he played in defusing the crisis on the nuclear deal, Dr. Shakeel said in a coalition government every senior member had the right to discuss his point of view. “When we sit at the negotiating table, we hear with patience the view of every partner and everybody is responsible for every decision of the government, which is collective.”

‘No timeframe’

Asked whether the understanding of the alliance partners was that the deal had been put on hold, Dr. Shakeel reiterated that the deal was in the offing. “Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammed Al Baradei and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher had said that there is no timeframe to start negotiations on the safeguards agreement. We will discuss amongst ourselves and come to a decision.”

Dismissing suggestions that the Prime Minister had become a “lame duck” Prime Minister, Dr. Shakeel said Dr. Singh was as competent and as powerful as he was when the government was formed. “We are a coalition government and it is the duty of the government to take into confidence all the alliance partners and that is what we are trying to do.”

Advani’s remark

On Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani’s comment that the deal was not in public interest, Dr. Shakeel said: “We do not agree with the statement. The deal is in the interest of the nation that will benefit in terms of power generation which is essential for our progress.”

He recalled that the BJP used to earlier claim that the discussions on the deal were started during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule and that the Congress should not take credit for it. “Today the NDA says that the nuclear deal is not a good one, whereas they were ready to even sign the CTBT. Was not the prestige of the country lowered when Mr. Advani visited the CIA headquarters in the U.S.? Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones at others.”

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