NEW DELHI, 31 July 2005 — Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having exercised extreme caution in convincing left supporters of Congress-led UPA government and the opposition about credibility of Indo-US joint statement inked during his US visit, the latter seem displeased.
During his suo motto statement, made on Friday, Manmohan had emphasized that “reciprocity” was the highlight of the Indo-US nuclear deal. “I would like to make it clear that our commitments would be conditional upon, and reciprocal to, the US fulfilling its side of this understanding. The joint statement refers to our identifying and separating civilian and military facilities in a phased manner and taking a decision to place voluntarily civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. India will never accept discrimination,” Manmohan had said.
Asserting that CPI (M) still has reservations about the Indo-US nuclear deal, senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said yesterday: “Despite the prime minister’s clarifications, India will have to be vigilant. We continue to have our apprehensions on certain aspects of the joint statement.” Veteran party leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu found the Indo-US statement “alright” in general. As Basu emerged from the party’s two-day politburo meeting, which concluded yesterday, he said: “Although we have not discussed it (the Indo-US statement) again, generally it is alright.”
Expressing BJP’s “dissatisfaction” with Manmohan’s statement, a senior party leader said: “We are not satisfied, particularly on the nuclear issue.” Describing the nuclear deal, as a “sell-out” of the country’s interests, he said it put India at a disadvantage. BJP will make its position clear after discussing the issue with NDA allies he said.
During their meeting, the NDA leaders will plan their strategy on how to counter the UPA government on the Indo-US statement and other issues such as the Ayodhya attack, Bihar and the price rise. BJP’s Ayodhya card, however, seems to weaken its political credentials on the NDA platform. NDA convenor George Fernandes yesterday regretted the attempt being made by certain leaders to revive the Ayodhya issue.
Earlier this week, the day charges regarding demolition of Babri Mosque were framed against him, BJP chief L.K. Advani had said: “Ayodhya movement has been revived due to the case...old memories will be refreshed.”
Without naming BJP or Advani, Fernandes said: “Some people are bothered about Ayodhya and some others about some other issues but Bihar is burning and nobody seems to be bothered about it.”
