Left pulls the plug

After months of acrimonious debate the Left Parties led by the CPI(M) have finally decided to withdraw support to the UPA government for its decision to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal by approaching the IAEA for approval to India specific safeguards. When this goes into print they would have formally intimated to the President of India their decision to withdraw support of 59 MPs reducing the UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh to a minority government. The President is likely to advise the Prime Minister to seek a vote of trust which could take place in the third week of July. What intrigues everyone is not the withdrawal of support but the timing of its announcement when the Prime Minister is attending a summit meeting with world leaders in a foreign soil. The Left leaders could have waited for the return of the Prime Minister on the 10th. The Left leaders blamed the Prime Minister for precipitating the crisis by his on-flight announcement that the government would go ahead with the IAEA. Now that the die is cast hectic parleys are on to save the UPA government from collapse and avoid an early Lok Sabha election.The Prune Minister has confidently announced in Japan that the UPA government faces no threat even after withdrawal of support by the Left. The Samajwadi Party with 39 MPs have pledged support to the government in case of a trust motion. With 226 MPs of the Congress and its allies barring the Left parties, the UPA now has solid support of 265 MPs just short of 7 MPs to cross the half way mark of 272. The smaller parties like the JD(S) with 3 MPs, RLD with 3 MPs, TRS with 3MPs, TC with 1 MP and NC with 2 MPs are in the shopping list of the Congress Party which would give them the required majority to win the trust vote. The Left Parties would have no compunction to join the non secular BJP to vote out the UPA government. The BJP during the NDA regime started discussion with the US on the Indo-US nuclear deal, but now opposing it because it is in the opposition. The Left Parties due to ideological differences find the proposed 123 agreement a compromise on India’s strategic sovereignty and reduce India to a stooge of US imperialism. The 123 agreement will allow the US to provide India access to civilian nuclear technology and nuclear fuel in exchange for international safeguards on Indian civilian nuclear reactors which would be of great national interest. Now with China assuring India of help in getting NSG approval, road is clear for India to end nuclear isolation. Dr.Manmohan Singh, the erudite Prime Minister should be congratulated for taking a daring decision to go ahead with the deal even at the cost of the Government.

source: assam tribune