08-19-2007, 03:37 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Beginning of the end </b>
Pioneer.com
Swapan Dasgupta
There were many misguided souls who imagined that the Congress Party and the Communists were just an "item" - the euphemism for a casual but mutually satisfying relationship. Now that both Prakash Karat and AB Bardhan have independently clarified that the two were actually bound by the covenant of marriage, the public spat over the Indo-US nuclear agreement has to be viewed through a different prism.Â
It is important to realise that unlike Bardhan's belief that the end of the honeymoon leads inevitably to divorce - a line of thinking that owes more to Zsa Zsa Gabor than Karl Marx - Karat realises that in India at least, loveless marriages persist for the sake of larger commitments to the family and community. His clarification that the "honeymoon is over but the marriage can continue for some time" is revealing. It suggests that regardless of Bardhan's endearing bluster, the <b>CPI(M) will explore every option - including counselling and separation - before concluding that there is an irretrievable breakdown and that divorce is the only way out.</b> <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
For the CPI(M), the priority is to ensure that the Indo-US nuclear agreement is not "operationalised". Its visceral antipathy to the agreement is not based on the belief that India's nuclear programme must be firewalled. The CPI(M), after all, was equally forthright in opposing the Pokhran-II tests in 1998. The party believes that the biggest threat to the world is posed by "US imperialism" and that the nuclear agreement is a facet of a strategic relationship that embraces the economy, defence and foreign policy.
For the CPI(M), the emerging relationship with the US is doubly dangerous because it goes against the national interests of China. For 50 years, China has managed the containment of India as a low-cost operation, using Pakistan and even the US. The growing Indo-US strategic relationship combined with India's growing economic clout now threatens to shift the scales of hegemonism in Asia away from Beijing. China and, for that matter, Pakistan will use all their leverage within India to scuttle the nuclear agreement because that changes the entire ball game in the region.
If the Communists were convinced that an immediate divorce was the only way to fight Washington and safeguard Beijing, they would have done so. However, the CPI(M) presumably feels that it has not explored all available options. The first is, of course, the propaganda war which Manmohan Singh is losing. Second is "going to the people" which is likely to be a non-starter because such abstruse issues don't inspire mass movements. The third, and by far the most important option, is to persuade the Congress to turn against its own Prime Minister. It is only if this approach fails that the CPI(M) will file for formal divorce.
<b>How far will the Congress go to save the UPA Government? Stemming from the curious belief that he has grown a backbone, the Prime Minister appears to have lost his composure. He first dared the Left to withdraw support. But far from scaring Karat - although it may have made some "parliamentary- roaders" a trifle nervous - it bolstered its dogmatic certitudes. Second, in mistaking India Today for India TV and fulminating over havans held, presumably, on the wrong side of Asoka Road, he imagined he was some kind of new Chief Bonga Bonga. Finally, in saying at the same breath that it was his "destiny" to be Prime Minister, he confounded Congressmen and put the "inner voice" in perspective. </b>
The belief that Manmohan has bungled has gained ground along with the Left upping the ante. PR Dasmunsi has already spoken about the Left's "legitimate grievances" that need to be addressed. Others feel that this is as good a time as any to end proxy rule and, in case the Left still doesn't fall in line, go to battle with all dynastic guns firing.
The Left knows what it wants. It's now up to the Congress to either stand firm or wilt. Either way,<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'> it's the beginning of the end for the 14th Lok Sabha.</span> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer.com
Swapan Dasgupta
There were many misguided souls who imagined that the Congress Party and the Communists were just an "item" - the euphemism for a casual but mutually satisfying relationship. Now that both Prakash Karat and AB Bardhan have independently clarified that the two were actually bound by the covenant of marriage, the public spat over the Indo-US nuclear agreement has to be viewed through a different prism.Â
It is important to realise that unlike Bardhan's belief that the end of the honeymoon leads inevitably to divorce - a line of thinking that owes more to Zsa Zsa Gabor than Karl Marx - Karat realises that in India at least, loveless marriages persist for the sake of larger commitments to the family and community. His clarification that the "honeymoon is over but the marriage can continue for some time" is revealing. It suggests that regardless of Bardhan's endearing bluster, the <b>CPI(M) will explore every option - including counselling and separation - before concluding that there is an irretrievable breakdown and that divorce is the only way out.</b> <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> For the CPI(M), the priority is to ensure that the Indo-US nuclear agreement is not "operationalised". Its visceral antipathy to the agreement is not based on the belief that India's nuclear programme must be firewalled. The CPI(M), after all, was equally forthright in opposing the Pokhran-II tests in 1998. The party believes that the biggest threat to the world is posed by "US imperialism" and that the nuclear agreement is a facet of a strategic relationship that embraces the economy, defence and foreign policy.
For the CPI(M), the emerging relationship with the US is doubly dangerous because it goes against the national interests of China. For 50 years, China has managed the containment of India as a low-cost operation, using Pakistan and even the US. The growing Indo-US strategic relationship combined with India's growing economic clout now threatens to shift the scales of hegemonism in Asia away from Beijing. China and, for that matter, Pakistan will use all their leverage within India to scuttle the nuclear agreement because that changes the entire ball game in the region.
If the Communists were convinced that an immediate divorce was the only way to fight Washington and safeguard Beijing, they would have done so. However, the CPI(M) presumably feels that it has not explored all available options. The first is, of course, the propaganda war which Manmohan Singh is losing. Second is "going to the people" which is likely to be a non-starter because such abstruse issues don't inspire mass movements. The third, and by far the most important option, is to persuade the Congress to turn against its own Prime Minister. It is only if this approach fails that the CPI(M) will file for formal divorce.
<b>How far will the Congress go to save the UPA Government? Stemming from the curious belief that he has grown a backbone, the Prime Minister appears to have lost his composure. He first dared the Left to withdraw support. But far from scaring Karat - although it may have made some "parliamentary- roaders" a trifle nervous - it bolstered its dogmatic certitudes. Second, in mistaking India Today for India TV and fulminating over havans held, presumably, on the wrong side of Asoka Road, he imagined he was some kind of new Chief Bonga Bonga. Finally, in saying at the same breath that it was his "destiny" to be Prime Minister, he confounded Congressmen and put the "inner voice" in perspective. </b>
The belief that Manmohan has bungled has gained ground along with the Left upping the ante. PR Dasmunsi has already spoken about the Left's "legitimate grievances" that need to be addressed. Others feel that this is as good a time as any to end proxy rule and, in case the Left still doesn't fall in line, go to battle with all dynastic guns firing.
The Left knows what it wants. It's now up to the Congress to either stand firm or wilt. Either way,<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'> it's the beginning of the end for the 14th Lok Sabha.</span> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->