Nuclear Thread - 3

[Guest]

<b>Govt gets support of key allies for nuclear deal</b>

[Guest]

<b>Congress, Left may delay n-split </b>


New Delhi, June 20: The ground-level situation is compelling the UPA and the Left to delay parting ways on the Indo-US nuclear deal. This is clear after the series of meetings they held on Friday despite reiterating their stated positions on this issue. A senior UPA leader said a UPA-Left meeting, expected on June 25, may be deferred because they have yet to arrive at a decision.

“We can delay going to the IAEA board of governors for India-specific safeguards by a few months. But neither the government nor the Left is in a position to dilute its stand on it,” he said. Ruling party sources said the situation could hardly get any worse for the Congress. While inflation, which has crossed 11 per cent, and the anti-incumbency factor are going against the government, advancing the Lok Sabha elections could go against the Left’s stand on containing the BJP.

<b>“What do we tell people in the elections? Should we criticise the Left and strengthen the BJP,” asked a minister</b>. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> The UPA allies know they cannot play a role beyond a point on this. The government and the Left cannot dilute their positions.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is going to Japan for the G-8 summit, where the nuclear deal is sure to figure, particularly at his meeting with US President George W. Bush.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Friday. The CPI’s D. Raja also met Mr Mukherjee in the presence of defence minister A.K. Antony. Before that, Mr Pawar met Mr Mukherjee.

Though UPA and Left leaders are tightlipped on the proposals they are discussing, the <b>thinking is that there should not be any bitterness before parting ways. </b>

<b>Immediately after the meetings, Mr Mukherjee drove to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s residence and briefed her on the situation. </b> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Though there was no official word from the government, the Left feels the government is still reviewing the situation and weighing options: whether to go ahead with the deal and its implications, including the possibility of early polls. At the AICC briefing, spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said the Congress wanted to take the Left along on the nuclear deal and there would be “no loss of face” if the agreement failed.

[Capt M Kumar]

<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> But how to gain China? To begin with, the CPM should unilaterally concede to all Beijing's demands regarding Arunachal Pradesh, a portion of Sikkim, and other parts of India which China claims for itself. To further sweeten the deal for China, the Marxists might also consider ceding the would-be Gorkhaland to Beijing, thereby getting shot of an awkward domestic problem created by people whom Bengal's transport minister has described as 'foreigners'.

In fact, in order to demonstrate its patriotic credentials the CPM might be tempted to cede itself to Beijing, hammer, sickle and all. Such a move would, once and for all, demonstrate the CPM's patriotic credentials. To China, of course. Who else? For unlike in India where we let them hang around, in China they simply hang their traitors.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion...how/3146582.cms

[Guest]

<b>Indo-US nuke deal to go to US Congress by year end: Dasmunsi</b>

[Guest]

Deal struck ???

<b>Left will not dislodge the Govt over N-deal: Pawar</b>

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Left will not dislodge the Govt over N-deal: Pawar<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Queen must have agreed to share part of bribe with Commies. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

<b>Don't go ahead with the N-deal: Top scientists</b>

[acharya]

Express News Service<b>

We’ll re-negotiate n-deal to India’s advantage: BJP
Suman K Jha </b>

New Delhi, June 21:With the embattled Manmohan Singh Government facing an indomitable opposition in the Left to sign the Indo-US nuclear deal, the BJP on Saturday said it would re-negotiate the deal with the new US administration if it is voted to power in the next elections.

‘Govt creating spectre of energy shortage’To make it blink, UPA allies try to look Left in the eyeAllies make Cong’s job tougher: we like deal, we like LeftPranab to visit Australia with hopes of rebuilding nuclear tiesIs it end-deal?

Arguing that it has an alternate plan up it sleeves, it has also questioned the Prime Minister’s leadership quotient, apart from the Congress’s ability to steer an alliance Government.

“Of course, we’ll re-negotiate the deal, making sure that the country’s nuclear sovereignty is not compromised,” BJP president Rajnath Singh told The Indian Express. The party thinks that “the cap on further nuclear tests enshrined in the Indo-US nuclear deal” compromises the country’s nuclear-power status. It is, however, okay with most other provisions of the deal.

The BJP has also seized the opportunity to highlight its “far more superior” coalition architecture and management. “We’ll have allies on board for talks (with the new US administration),” said the BJP president, alluding to the bickering in the ruling UPA alliance over the issue.

Taking a dig at the CPI general secretary A B Bardhan’s pronouncements on the issue, the BJP leader said the Communists were not concerned about the “objective conditions here”. The saffron party has contrasted the Left’s “pathological opposition to USA” with its own track record of scripting “a new era in the Indo-US strategic partnership”.

The apparent softening of the BJP’s stance on the deal has been evident for the past few weeks now. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Whether to conclude or not to conclude the deal finally remains in the realm of the executive decision of the Government of India,” thus shifting the onus of the operationalisation of the deal on the ruling UPA alliance.

The BJP had initially cited the “overwhelming opinion in Parliament against the deal” while voicing its opposition to “the 123 nuclear deal in its present form”.

“We are not against good and friendly relations with USA,” said Prasad, dubbing the nuclear divide in the ruling alliance as a reflection of the Prime Minister “lacking the authority and decision making ability which is requited for such an exalted office”.

In the past few weeks, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani has spoken about the cap on further nuclear tests as the prime reason why the party cannot accept the deal. Other leaders like Narendra Modi had raised questions over the PM’s inability to take the alliance partners into confidence.

The BJP has also used the opportunity to draw an L K Advani vs Manmohan Singh contrast on the their leadership quotient. “You have not been able to govern. How long will the people continue to suffer and how long will India’s international image continue to suffer? Better quit,” said Prasad, in a scathing observation, alluding to the PM’s inability to convince the Left allies on the deal.

“Call it a course correction, rather than a shift. The party is not against the US. The party cannot accept a ban on further nuclear tests, but is fine with the deal otherwise. And the party is also aware of the middle class aspirations,” said a BJP leader. Senior leader Yashwant Sinha said he had no comments to offer. He was earlier vocal in articulating the party’s opposition to the deal “in its present form”.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>UPA allies urge Sonia Gandhi to convince the PM to back down on the nuclear deal bit the money is too much to forego</b>
link
Anil Sengupta
Jun. 23, 2008
UPA's allies on Monday evening made a united attempt to convince Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to back down on the nuclear deal. They collectively said it is not a good time for an election against BJP led NDA as India is suffering from the fiscal and monetary mismanagement from Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh, academic economists trained in the west.

The UPA leaders called for a truce between the Left parties and Congress and urged the Congress party to give up back door attempts to please the failed US President George Bush.

Can Sonia Gandhi give up India-US nuke deal? Most likely she cannot because there are hidden commitments behind it. <span style='color:red'>$100 billion is involved. That can of money transfer always involves big chunk of kickbacks. Can Congress party forego that kind of money? </span>

The Left is firm on its stand. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat reiterated that the Left, without doubt, would withdraw support if the government went to the IAEA board.

<b>It seems Congress party could not offer enough to share with the communists on the kickbacks they will receive from the deal. </b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Shambhu]

UPA allies urge Sonia Gandhi to convince the PM to back down on the nuclear deal bit the money is too much to forego
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other things apart, the UPAites still observe this decorum of thinking the Maino has to actually do some convincing when she talks to MMS!! Ordering would be the right word. Actually she does not even need to order..

[ramana]

Shambu, There is a theory that it was he who came up with the proposal to form the UPA. So dont dismiss it out of hand. The word is that he gets 3B and maaji + baccha 10B for the deal only. The contracts are extra.

[Guest]

That money is buying hill in Shimla for daughter and nice flat in London for son, rest for vacation with grand children.
Bofor was very small loot, Saddam money was drop and this time queen had robbed bank. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Bhutto and Gandhi inspire each other. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[acharya]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8062401503.html


Can India Say Yes?
New Delhi comes to a crossroads over nuclear cooperation with the United States.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008; Page A12

INDIA IS clearly destined for a greater role on the world stage, and there are sound reasons to hope that it will increasingly find itself in sync with the United States as its influence grows. India, a culturally diverse and economically booming democracy of more than 1 billion people, and America share political values and strategic priorities -- such as blunting Chinese military power and resisting Islamist terrorism. These considerations led the Bush administration to pursue a "strategic partnership," the heart of which is a far-reaching nuclear cooperation agreement. It would permit a resumption of U.S. sales of nuclear fuel and technology to India for nonmilitary uses, despite India's development of nuclear weapons outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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Why, then, is India balking at the deal, the final contours of which were settled almost a year ago? If anything, the accord is stacked in India's favor. It allows India not only to buy uranium and nuclear reactors from the United States but also to reprocess spent atomic fuel at a new facility, under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision to prevent its diversion into weapons programs. The United States committed itself to helping India accumulate a nuclear fuel stockpile, thus insulating New Delhi against a U.S. law that provides for a supply cutoff in the event that India conducts a nuclear test. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, understanding both the boost in international prestige the arrangement would give India and the reduction in carbon emissions that his country could achieve from using more nuclear energy, has all but staked his government on implementation.

The problem is that India's old-style domestic politics lags behind its new international opportunities. Mr. Singh's own Congress Party is not firmly united behind the nuclear deal, and his junior coalition partner, the Communists, are dead-set against it -- because they see it as a sellout of the country's traditionally independent foreign policy. India must first seek approval from the IAEA's board of governors and then from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group -- and then the U.S. Congress would have to sign off, probably not without some criticism of India's energy cooperation with Iran. If the Communists quit, Mr. Singh's government will fall, and his Congress Party would have to face voters with inflation at a 13-year high.

Mr. Singh's party and the Communists are scheduled to meet today for one last round of negotiation. Prospects for agreement are bleak. And there might not be time to get the accord through this U.S. Congress, even if the Communists unexpectedly back down -- or if Mr. Singh decides that sticking to the deal is worth the risks of a new election, as some recent reports from New Delhi suggest he will. The good news here is that India is indeed a vibrant democracy, where the people's elected representatives across the spectrum have a right to be heard and to influence policy. But if New Delhi's politicians cannot find a way to say yes to such a clearly advantageous agreement with a natural ally, the next U.S. administration no doubt will think twice before trying anything like it.

[Guest]

<!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Wonder what going rate is for Editorials/Opinions in India these days

[Guest]

<b>Total nuclear disarmament is the aim: Pranab </b>

[acharya]

<b>
BJP will vote against deal: Rajnath
</b>
Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: If the nuclear deal with the United States were to be placed before Parliament for its approval — although under the Constitution the government had the powers to approve it through an executive decision — the Bharatiya Janata Party would vote against it.

BJP president Rajnath Singh made this clear here during the course of an interview to a television channel. “We will vote against it [the nuclear deal],” he said.
‘Most unfortunate’

Mr. Singh emphasised that the Manmohan Singh government had not consulted the main Opposition party during the course of the negotiations, but met its leaders only after the text of the deal was “frozen.” Mr. Singh described this as “most unfortunate.”

It was for the government and its supporting parties to take a view on what needed to be done or not done. The problem was with the ruling alliance. As for the BJP it would take its own decisions at an appropriate time, he suggested.

Mr. Singh was not very forthright when asked whether his party would move a motion of no-confidence against the government. But he said that the deal sacrificed India’s strategic interests.

The BJP, he said, was not convinced by the government’s assertion that the deal would not come in the way of India continuing to develop its military nuclear programme.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>N-deal logjam</b>
<b>Race against Time</b>

8.30 am: Defence Minister AK Antony arrives at Pranab Mukherjee's residence
9.00 am: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat arrives
10.10 am: Mukherjee and Antony meet Sonia Gandhi and brief her on the talks they held with Karat
12.30 pm: Karat meets Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at South Avenue (Akhilesh Yadav's residence)
2.50 pm: Pranab meets PM at South Block
3.00 pm: Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia (US Citizen) meets Sonia
4.00 pm: UPA allies meet Pranab at South Block
4.00 pm: Left leaders meet at AKG Bhavan
5.00 pm: UPA- Left committee meeting at Pranab's residence
6.35 pm: Pranab and Sitaram Yechuri brief the media
7.00 pm: Sonia, Pranab, Antony and other Congress leaders discuss the day's developments with the PM at 7, Race Course Road
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Queen should share bribe money with other traitors after selling India.
Just can't believe they can't even negotitate bribe money percentage in one year.

[acharya]

<b>BJP for strategic ties with United States</b>
Neena Vyas
But opposed to the nuclear deal, says Advani

If BJP comes to power, it will “renegotiate” nuclear deal

“In 1960s itself Jana Sangh favoured India making nuclear bomb”

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is in favour of “strategic relations” with the United States but is opposed to the nuclear deal with the U.S. because it does not want the country’s right to conduct a nuclear test compromised, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani has said here .

Mr. Advani was speaking on the sidelines of a function where a booklet of the speeches made by Jana Sangh presidents was released by him and BJP president Rajnath Singh here .

It was the Jana Sangh which declared in the 1960s that it was in favour of the country making a nuclear bomb.
<b>Hyde Act</b>

If the BJP came to power it would “renegotiate” the deal to ensure that the objectionable Hyde Act would not come into play, he said.

Two days ago, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the UPA government to take a “final call” on the deal.

Informally, senior party leaders are saying that if the nuclear deal were to go through during the UPA regime, any BJP government that might follow “would not rescind” the deal. However, if a BJP-led government were to take power before a deal is finalised with the U.S., it would, as suggested by Mr. Advani, try to “renegotiate” the deal.
<b>WTO</b>

Party veterans pointed out that the BJP had talked of “walking out of the World Trade Organisation” if it were to come to power as it opposed India entering the World Trade Organisation during the Narasimha Rao regime. Now no one is talking about that, and nobody did when the party was in power for six years from 1998 to 2004, it was pointed out.

[Guest]

<b>Sonia, Karat ready with exit plan</b>

[ramana]

Interestng that MMS wants to send Pranab Mukherjee to G-8 mtg instead of himself incase the Left stalls the IAEA signature. The thought is a principled man like him would quit na?

So in all probability this ia another drama going on to pressure India by Indians onlee.

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