The Hindu : Front Page : Let Parliament decide on deal: CPI(M)

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Friday, Oct 26, 2007
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Let Parliament decide on deal: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

“BJP will be doing the greatest disservice by not allowing a discussion ”

BJP speaking with a “forked tongue”
Coalition governments “here to stay”

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday expressed the hope that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would allow a discussion on the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal in the coming winter session.

“Let a majority in Parliament decide whether the deal is acceptable to India or not. This is the only way that the present impasse can end,” the latest issue of the party organ, People’s Democracy, said in an editorial.

The BJP would be doing the “greatest disservice” to the nation by not allowing Parliament to have its say in the matter.

BJP’s grouse

Criticising the BJP for speaking with a “forked tongue,” the editorial said on the one hand, the party was arguing for an Indo-U.S. strategic alliance and on the other, it was playing to the gallery by periodically issuing statements opposing the deal.

“The BJP’s main grouse is that this deal, if it ever happens, is happening under a Congress-led dispensation while it ought to have happened under the BJP as they had laid down the basis for deepening the Indo-U.S. strategic alliance.”

The editorial argued that a “fractured mandate” must not be seen as a regression of India’s democratic evolution; in many ways it reflected that the Indian democracy had matured. “At least for some time in the future, coalition governments are the order of things to come in Indian politics.”

On the Left’s objections to the nuclear deal, it said the desire for such a deal was not mentioned in the Congress’ election manifesto. “Neither was it mentioned in any manifesto of its allies nor does the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) have any reference to it. On the contrary, the CMP talks of an independent foreign policy to be pursued by the UPA government, which, given the nature and content of this deal, the Left parties are convinced will be compromised. Under these circumstances, the Left’s objection to the deal, in no way, constitutes any departure from the agreed CMP, which is the basis for its support to this UPA government,” the editorial said.

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