NEW DELHI: Two days ahead of a crucial meeting of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left nuclear committee, a poll-wary Congress is mounting pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to save the government till it has inflation under control before pushing the India-US nuclear deal.
The ruling party, which is under severe pressure from its allies, is trying to convince Singh and the pro-deal lobby that letting the government collapse over the nuclear deal would not be an “electorally wise decision,” party sources told IANS.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is believed to have urged Singh to look at ways to resolve amicably the row with the Communists over the nuclear deal, according to the sources. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who arrived here yesterday, is expected to convey the same message to Singh.
The sources said that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had sought time Saturday from the prime minister and Gandhi to tide over the inflation that has touched a 13-year high at 11.05 percent. “The nuclear issue is not something that can fetch the party votes, specially when the common man is facing such a steep price rise,” admitted a Congress Working Committee member who did not want to be named.
The Congress allies also feel that the UPA is unlikely to gain from a snap Lok Sabha election when prices of food and essential commodities are soaring. “It (going to polls on nuclear issue) will not only be unwise but will be harmful also. The common man is not concerned about the nuclear deal,” Nationalist Congress Party MP Tariq Anwar told IANS. “People are not happy with the government’s performance because of the steep prices of essential commodities. Besides, Muslims in the country also do not want a deal with (US President George W.) Bush,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.
According to the sources in the UPA, more and more allies seem to be backing the Left as far as stalling early elections are concerned although they support the nuclear deal with Washington.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a major ally of the Congress in Kerala, however, has threatened to quit the coalition if the government went ahead with the nuclear deal.
