Dont know how accurate but here is HS Vyas of Pioneer, 22 August 2007.
Some answers to preplexing questions.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Confidence gave PM teeth</b>
<b>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh threatening to resign and daring the Left to withdraw support </b>was an unparallel happening. Singh showed guts by taking a stand on the 123 Agreement. <b>But why do you think he challenged the Left?</b> The reason lies in self-confidence. <b>It was thought that Left would abandon its opposition in the face of such a massive stand-off. But Karat, instead of getting nervous, retaliated.</b> Mulayam and VP Singh could not hide their glee. Mulayam said in Lucknow that the Left Front should not bark but bite. VP held talks with the Left and later held a Press conference demanding Singh's resignation and advising the Left to withdraw support.
In the coming week, discussions on the Agreement will take place in Parliament. <b>But, the Left will not vote against the Government along with the BJP.</b> CPM leaders Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will not let the Government fall. <b>The Prime Minister has full faith in West Bengal's Communist leaders.</b> Most UPA allies are behind the Agreement. Simply put, much like the Left, the clouds will thunder but not burst.
Calculated challenge
<b>But why did the Prime Minister suddenly challenge the Left?</b> After all, there was nothing new in the Left stand. It is their oft-stated position that they will not support the Agreement and want a discussion in Parliament. No leader went beyond this. Nobody said they will vote against the Government in Parliament or withdraw support. <b>The crisis was created by the PM himself. By daring to withdraw support, he forced Karat to retaliate. It was the PMO who briefed journalists about Singh's offer to quit and it was the PMO which called a particular journalist to give a political interview to a newspaper. Why did Singh do that? Leaders say it was a calculated challenge, discussed threadbare with Sonia.</b>
Karat in kill mode?
<b>Karat is targetting the Congress and if a senior leader is to be believed, the Left is aiming at finishing it off. By making the Agreement a big political issue, the CPM has put the Congress in a Catch 22 situation: America or Muslim votes? With all Muslims being against any Indo-US relationship, the Left is trying to show up the Congress as a villain. Last Sunday, Karat questioned the need for an Indo-US relationship. "We do not want friendship or defence co-operation with America," he said, pandering to the Muslim votebank. </b>The stance is much like Mulayam and Naidu's political strategy.
<b>Karat has been working for an alternative for the next General Election. He has hinted about a Third Front. And if that is to be a reality, the Left would have to work alongside Mulayam and Naidu.</b> Karat, the leader insisted, considers Congress a liability which needs to be shed sooner than later. In this context, he opined, the Congress is on a suicidal path. <b>"It is a mistake on the part of the PM and Sonia that without creating a conducive environment they are pushing for the Agreement.</b>
Congmen wonder
<b>There is widespread opinion within the Congress that the party should have created a favourable mood for the Agreement before going for it. In Indira Gandhi's time, the entire organisation used to be activated for important foreign policy matters, like it was done before the treaty with USSR. Not only the entire CWC but also the Congress Chief Ministers and office-bearers were told to create an awareness. </b>Meetings were held and rallies taken out on the issue. <b>Today, the party's general secretaries and even External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee avoid talking about the 123 Agreement. When the CWC endorsed its approval for the Agreement, Mukherjee was not even there.</b> Instead of making the party understand the import of such a sensitive issue, he went on a foreign tour. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to brief the CWC. <b>Surprisingly, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan has been doing all the marketing among Congress leaders as well as the BJP and the media. This Monday, besides Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon also became active. He briefed the Congress MPs about the Agreement. </b>
Support there
Do Congress leaders consider friendship with America in the interest of India? <b>Most CWC members and AICC office-bearers say that the Agreement is good. In the CWC meeting three leaders raised the question about America's Hyde Act.</b> Both Narayanan and the PM were quick to allay their fears. And, as a leader later said: <b>"We were outcastes in the world community. With the Agreement, that untouchability will end. Nuclear techniques and supplies will be made available by the Nuclear Supply Group. We can fight the terrorists with US co-operation." But then why do these leaders shy away from saying such things publicly? The leader's reply was: "First the party organisation should decided how to propagate our stand."</b>
Manmohan's twin strategy
<b>Why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh choose a Kolkata-based newspaper for his controversial interview in which he dared the Left to withdraw support to the Government over the 123 Agreement?</b> Sources say, Singh did so because, as opposed to the Left leaders at the Centre, he felt the Bengal leadership was more practical. Also, <b>Congress strategists felt there was resentment in the CPM over Karat's leadership. People like Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya are against 'hardliner' Karat. Already, within the politburo questions are simmering over his leadership. Besides, the decision on support withdrawal is not in Karat's hands.</b> The politburo will not allow such a decision.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Interesting so its a game to the finish. MMS and Sg want to split the CPIM and have moved with full force to corner Karat. And Karat wants to finish of the INC by removing its Muslim votebank. Then how is the INC different form the BJP? Are they secular Hindus? Is there such a thing?
Some answers to preplexing questions.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Confidence gave PM teeth</b>
<b>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh threatening to resign and daring the Left to withdraw support </b>was an unparallel happening. Singh showed guts by taking a stand on the 123 Agreement. <b>But why do you think he challenged the Left?</b> The reason lies in self-confidence. <b>It was thought that Left would abandon its opposition in the face of such a massive stand-off. But Karat, instead of getting nervous, retaliated.</b> Mulayam and VP Singh could not hide their glee. Mulayam said in Lucknow that the Left Front should not bark but bite. VP held talks with the Left and later held a Press conference demanding Singh's resignation and advising the Left to withdraw support.
In the coming week, discussions on the Agreement will take place in Parliament. <b>But, the Left will not vote against the Government along with the BJP.</b> CPM leaders Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will not let the Government fall. <b>The Prime Minister has full faith in West Bengal's Communist leaders.</b> Most UPA allies are behind the Agreement. Simply put, much like the Left, the clouds will thunder but not burst.
Calculated challenge
<b>But why did the Prime Minister suddenly challenge the Left?</b> After all, there was nothing new in the Left stand. It is their oft-stated position that they will not support the Agreement and want a discussion in Parliament. No leader went beyond this. Nobody said they will vote against the Government in Parliament or withdraw support. <b>The crisis was created by the PM himself. By daring to withdraw support, he forced Karat to retaliate. It was the PMO who briefed journalists about Singh's offer to quit and it was the PMO which called a particular journalist to give a political interview to a newspaper. Why did Singh do that? Leaders say it was a calculated challenge, discussed threadbare with Sonia.</b>
Karat in kill mode?
<b>Karat is targetting the Congress and if a senior leader is to be believed, the Left is aiming at finishing it off. By making the Agreement a big political issue, the CPM has put the Congress in a Catch 22 situation: America or Muslim votes? With all Muslims being against any Indo-US relationship, the Left is trying to show up the Congress as a villain. Last Sunday, Karat questioned the need for an Indo-US relationship. "We do not want friendship or defence co-operation with America," he said, pandering to the Muslim votebank. </b>The stance is much like Mulayam and Naidu's political strategy.
<b>Karat has been working for an alternative for the next General Election. He has hinted about a Third Front. And if that is to be a reality, the Left would have to work alongside Mulayam and Naidu.</b> Karat, the leader insisted, considers Congress a liability which needs to be shed sooner than later. In this context, he opined, the Congress is on a suicidal path. <b>"It is a mistake on the part of the PM and Sonia that without creating a conducive environment they are pushing for the Agreement.</b>
Congmen wonder
<b>There is widespread opinion within the Congress that the party should have created a favourable mood for the Agreement before going for it. In Indira Gandhi's time, the entire organisation used to be activated for important foreign policy matters, like it was done before the treaty with USSR. Not only the entire CWC but also the Congress Chief Ministers and office-bearers were told to create an awareness. </b>Meetings were held and rallies taken out on the issue. <b>Today, the party's general secretaries and even External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee avoid talking about the 123 Agreement. When the CWC endorsed its approval for the Agreement, Mukherjee was not even there.</b> Instead of making the party understand the import of such a sensitive issue, he went on a foreign tour. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to brief the CWC. <b>Surprisingly, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan has been doing all the marketing among Congress leaders as well as the BJP and the media. This Monday, besides Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon also became active. He briefed the Congress MPs about the Agreement. </b>
Support there
Do Congress leaders consider friendship with America in the interest of India? <b>Most CWC members and AICC office-bearers say that the Agreement is good. In the CWC meeting three leaders raised the question about America's Hyde Act.</b> Both Narayanan and the PM were quick to allay their fears. And, as a leader later said: <b>"We were outcastes in the world community. With the Agreement, that untouchability will end. Nuclear techniques and supplies will be made available by the Nuclear Supply Group. We can fight the terrorists with US co-operation." But then why do these leaders shy away from saying such things publicly? The leader's reply was: "First the party organisation should decided how to propagate our stand."</b>
Manmohan's twin strategy
<b>Why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh choose a Kolkata-based newspaper for his controversial interview in which he dared the Left to withdraw support to the Government over the 123 Agreement?</b> Sources say, Singh did so because, as opposed to the Left leaders at the Centre, he felt the Bengal leadership was more practical. Also, <b>Congress strategists felt there was resentment in the CPM over Karat's leadership. People like Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya are against 'hardliner' Karat. Already, within the politburo questions are simmering over his leadership. Besides, the decision on support withdrawal is not in Karat's hands.</b> The politburo will not allow such a decision.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Interesting so its a game to the finish. MMS and Sg want to split the CPIM and have moved with full force to corner Karat. And Karat wants to finish of the INC by removing its Muslim votebank. Then how is the INC different form the BJP? Are they secular Hindus? Is there such a thing?