07-21-2008, 01:28 PM
<b>Nuke deal is purely political: Manvendra Singh</b>
21 Jul 2008, 0706 hrs IST, Rustam Roy,TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Manvendra Singh
Manvendra Singh.
After Congress MP Sachin Pilot's take on the nuclear deal on Friday, BJP's Manvendra Singh, son of Jaswant Singh talks about the politics behind the Indo-US nuke deal, the horsestrading mess and his experience as a first-time MP from Barmer.
<b>
Q: Why is the BJP opposing the nuclear deal?</b>
A: From July 18, 2005 till today, we have been opposing the nuclear deal, it's not a matter of today or yesterday. The deal is purely political and has nothing to do with energy, we don't agree with the price the nation has to pay to get the deal through.
<b>
Q: So your party is just trying to prove a point ahead of the elections.</b>
A: That's the perception, we are not anti-American, we believe in having good relations with the Americans but we are opposed to the deal because it forfeits India's strategic space and autonomy. The NDA had initiated highest level talks with the Americans when it was in power, but this deal is based on just one point of attraction, no relationship is based on one point of attraction, and it is true for this deal as well.
<b>
Q: Embarrass the government, that's the BJP's strategy.</b>
A: See, if the government is interested in embarrassing itself, then what can we do? We are not here to enhance the image of the Congress, why should we support a deal which we do not believe, both from an ideological and from the strategic point.
<b>
Q: The deal will make us self reliant in energy.</b>
A: Ok, I grant them that, if they say it will make us self-reliant in energy but at what cost? The fact is that we will be importing reactors and fuel, which cannot be in favour of our security, it defies logic.
<b>
Q: So if the BJP comes to power, you will junk the deal?</b>
A: Yes, we will.
<b>
Q: I will hold you to it.</b>
A: Sure, you can, we will junk it.
<b>
Q: And so horsetrading takes place, is that fair?</b>
A: It is ruining the political class, it is something I haven't seen in my political career, that is the reason I don't understand why this government is risking everything for one deal.
<b>
Q: What kind of signal are politicians sending out to the people who feel so disillusioned seeing all this in front of their eyes?</b>
A: Politicians reflect society, whatever is happening even we are concerned, we also know what the people are thinking. For politics to change good people have to come in, you cannot expect good conduct from an Atiq Ansari.
<b>
Q: So blame it on society.</b>
A: No, I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that good people will have to take the lead and come into politics. They have to feel itâs good for the country. You have to get into the muck to change things.
<b>
Q: Finally, how has it been for you as a first-time MP from Barmer, what is it that left you unfulfilled?</b>
A: Frankly itâs water. I couldn't do enough to provide water, not because of lack of will but I didn't know there was so much s arkari procedure involved. I didn't cater for the scale and level of delay involved in getting my ideas through.
21 Jul 2008, 0706 hrs IST, Rustam Roy,TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Manvendra Singh
Manvendra Singh.
After Congress MP Sachin Pilot's take on the nuclear deal on Friday, BJP's Manvendra Singh, son of Jaswant Singh talks about the politics behind the Indo-US nuke deal, the horsestrading mess and his experience as a first-time MP from Barmer.
<b>
Q: Why is the BJP opposing the nuclear deal?</b>
A: From July 18, 2005 till today, we have been opposing the nuclear deal, it's not a matter of today or yesterday. The deal is purely political and has nothing to do with energy, we don't agree with the price the nation has to pay to get the deal through.
<b>
Q: So your party is just trying to prove a point ahead of the elections.</b>
A: That's the perception, we are not anti-American, we believe in having good relations with the Americans but we are opposed to the deal because it forfeits India's strategic space and autonomy. The NDA had initiated highest level talks with the Americans when it was in power, but this deal is based on just one point of attraction, no relationship is based on one point of attraction, and it is true for this deal as well.
<b>
Q: Embarrass the government, that's the BJP's strategy.</b>
A: See, if the government is interested in embarrassing itself, then what can we do? We are not here to enhance the image of the Congress, why should we support a deal which we do not believe, both from an ideological and from the strategic point.
<b>
Q: The deal will make us self reliant in energy.</b>
A: Ok, I grant them that, if they say it will make us self-reliant in energy but at what cost? The fact is that we will be importing reactors and fuel, which cannot be in favour of our security, it defies logic.
<b>
Q: So if the BJP comes to power, you will junk the deal?</b>
A: Yes, we will.
<b>
Q: I will hold you to it.</b>
A: Sure, you can, we will junk it.
<b>
Q: And so horsetrading takes place, is that fair?</b>
A: It is ruining the political class, it is something I haven't seen in my political career, that is the reason I don't understand why this government is risking everything for one deal.
<b>
Q: What kind of signal are politicians sending out to the people who feel so disillusioned seeing all this in front of their eyes?</b>
A: Politicians reflect society, whatever is happening even we are concerned, we also know what the people are thinking. For politics to change good people have to come in, you cannot expect good conduct from an Atiq Ansari.
<b>
Q: So blame it on society.</b>
A: No, I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that good people will have to take the lead and come into politics. They have to feel itâs good for the country. You have to get into the muck to change things.
<b>
Q: Finally, how has it been for you as a first-time MP from Barmer, what is it that left you unfulfilled?</b>
A: Frankly itâs water. I couldn't do enough to provide water, not because of lack of will but I didn't know there was so much s arkari procedure involved. I didn't cater for the scale and level of delay involved in getting my ideas through.