Nuclear Thread - 2

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Daily Pioneer October, 31, 07
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Not end of road for N-deal, asserts PM</b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
...as United States mounts pressure

What gives them right to dictate, asks Left

In the midst of intense US pressure to move ahead on the India-US civil nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday indicated the agreement has not been shelved, saying "we have not reached the end of the road," and efforts are on to evolve a broad-based national consensus.

The Prime Minister chose to revive the nuclear deal debate while addressing a joint press conference with the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel when the entire foreign press was in full strength.

The Prime Minister's word is bound to infuriate the Left parties which have been demanding a categorical assurance from the Government that the deal had been put on hold for all time to come.

Even on Monday night, the Left leaders rejected overtures by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to rethink on their opposition to the deal.

Acknowledging that "some problems" persisted in implementing the deal, the Prime Minister said, "We are committed to see that the process is carried forward and "efforts are on to evolve a broad-based national consensus".

Reflecting on coalition compulsions, Singh said, "we are in a democracy and in a democracy ultimately you have to take along all those who are supporting you."
 
<b>"I would not like to speculate what would be the consequences if there is some delay. We have not reached the end of the road," he said when asked if he was worried whether the deal would suffer because of the delay.
 
The Prime Minister's remarks on Tuesday are being seen in contrast to his speech at the Hindustan Times summit where he virtually admitted he was ready to live with the disappointment of seeing his pet dream not fructify. Later, the Prime Minister had also conveyed his helplessness and sadness over being compelled to drop the deal.</b>

<b>Earlier in the day, Washington stepped up pressure for early 'operationalisation' of the nuclear deal and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger held parleys with India's political leaders to overcome resistance.</b>
(Eewww. Kissinger again. Yucko.)

Sources said after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke to Mukherjee on Monday, the Congress leader tried to open a channel with top CPI(M) and CPI leaders and wanted to know if India could go ahead with preliminary talks with the IAEA .

However, both CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury and CPI general secretary AB Bardhan are understood to have told Mukherjee that the Left wanted the deal to remain on hold till its concerns were addressed.

The Left leaders also made it clear to the UPA Government that they considered open lobbying by the US diplomats as "an interference in India's affairs and could not allow India to be dictated to follow a particular course of action.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a top CPI(M) leader said that "we just see this as American interference in our domestic affairs."

"We aren't a banana republic, so we consider their dialogues with Indian politicians to plead for India-US civilian nuclear deal not only uncalled for but as unacceptable interference," CPI leader D Raja said.

RSP leader Abani Roy said, "by now Prime Minister must find out what they are doing when there isn't any official dialogue on this issue."

"How can they resort to pressure tactics and tell New Delhi that India has to finalise the deal before a given deadline when the UPA-Left committee is scheduled to meet on November 16 and Parliament is yet to give its nod to the deal," he asked.
 
Meanwhile, Kissinger again cautioned India that a delay could impact prospects of such cooperation as the critics would be "better organised" two years later. India must implement the deal "for its own reasons" and not "as a favour to" or "under pressure" from the US, he added.
 
Speaking at a seminar in New Delhi, Kissinger said if the agreement was not completed during the tenure of the Bush administration, it would be detrimental to the interests of India itself.

"The new administration in 2009 will negotiate a new agreement and submit it for Congress' approval and the same steps would repeat. Those opposed to the deal would be better organised two years from now," he added.

Referring to his meeting with Leader of Opposition and BJP veteran LK Advani on Monday, Kissinger said, "Inevitably, this issue figured in our discussions. He (Advani) explained his perception of India's necessities. I did not make any particular attempt to influence."
(Well, of course Kissinger didn't "attempt to influence". He knows who US intends to get 'democratically' elected in India. And it ain't the BJP.)
 
Kissinger also insisted that the strategic closeness in India-US relations was not to "contain" China.
 
"I do not think that (US) friendship with China is incompatible with (its) friendship with India or also the otherwise. This is just part of the new approach that current situations have imposed upon us," he said.
 
<b>Trying to resolve differences</b>
- Efforts are on to evolve a broad national consensus
- We are a democracy and in a democracy you have to take along all those who are supporting you
- I would not like to speculate on what would be the <b>consequences</b> if there is some delay. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->(Was that last a threat? Or is he merely worried about US cutting his pay?)