08-17-2007, 07:14 AM
BSP fishing in troubled waters
Pl read this in conjuction w/ 2009 poll prospects
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
of Political section.
Fierce opposition to the India-US civil nuclear agreement by the Opposition and the Left parties has given UPA allies cold feet over coming to the rescue of the Government.
An indication of this effect came from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has conveyed to the Government its inability to support the deal in view of the adverse political repercussions.
Sources said BSP chief Mayawati has conveyed a terse message to the UPA crisis managers: "Don't expect support from us on the nuclear deal."
This has come as a big setback to the Government since the UP Chief Minister had supported the UPA in the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Sources said the BSP had conveyed to the UPA leaders that it could not be seen siding with the Government on a deal that could hurt the sentiments of the minority community, who are bitterly opposed to American policy in Iraq and elsewhere.
"We don't know who is telling the truth, but one thing is clear, the nuclear deal is going to be very unpopular," a BSP leader said, adding, "We have to decide in the interest of Sarvjan."
The leader said that while the Congress itself was trying to woo the Muslim community through various programmes, the BSP didn't want to get involved in an issue on which it was neither consulted nor has the expertise.
The BSP has decided to opt out at a time when the UPA is trying to reassure its partners that it may garner enough support to run the Government, even if the Left parties withdrew support.
The crisis seems to be compounding as none of the allies of the ruling coalition have supported the deal either in public or in Parliament.
Sources told The Pioneer that RJD supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, seen as a 'yes' man of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, has called some of his senior party members on Thursday night to firm up the party's stand on the nuclear deal.
Even the DMK has so far remained silent on the deal.
Pl read this in conjuction w/ 2009 poll prospects
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
of Political section.
Fierce opposition to the India-US civil nuclear agreement by the Opposition and the Left parties has given UPA allies cold feet over coming to the rescue of the Government.
An indication of this effect came from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has conveyed to the Government its inability to support the deal in view of the adverse political repercussions.
Sources said BSP chief Mayawati has conveyed a terse message to the UPA crisis managers: "Don't expect support from us on the nuclear deal."
This has come as a big setback to the Government since the UP Chief Minister had supported the UPA in the presidential and vice-presidential elections.
Sources said the BSP had conveyed to the UPA leaders that it could not be seen siding with the Government on a deal that could hurt the sentiments of the minority community, who are bitterly opposed to American policy in Iraq and elsewhere.
"We don't know who is telling the truth, but one thing is clear, the nuclear deal is going to be very unpopular," a BSP leader said, adding, "We have to decide in the interest of Sarvjan."
The leader said that while the Congress itself was trying to woo the Muslim community through various programmes, the BSP didn't want to get involved in an issue on which it was neither consulted nor has the expertise.
The BSP has decided to opt out at a time when the UPA is trying to reassure its partners that it may garner enough support to run the Government, even if the Left parties withdrew support.
The crisis seems to be compounding as none of the allies of the ruling coalition have supported the deal either in public or in Parliament.
Sources told The Pioneer that RJD supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, seen as a 'yes' man of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, has called some of his senior party members on Thursday night to firm up the party's stand on the nuclear deal.
Even the DMK has so far remained silent on the deal.