UPA fumbles Left bumbles UNPA

Videos

India-US Nuclear Agreement and Iran

see larger video

sourced by Nksagar

Naresh SAGAR on 24 October 2007 4:03
Washington is seen keener for the civil nuclear deal and is running out
of patience.The Bush administration has set a year-end deadline for the
India to wrap up negotiations with IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee request government be allowed to hold
negotiations with IAEA surprised the Left with the promise that the
text of the agreement would be shown to Left .
Pranab"s fresh opt for negotiations with IAEA left senior Left leaders
wondering about the intent.Congress leaders pointed out that it took
China 13 years to clinch it. “The deal could be carried forward by the
Indian government and the US administration anytime in future
regardless of the parties being in charge in both countries, there is
no time frame or deadlines for the purpose.” Yechury remarks to hold
the deal till the term of bush is hailed by many Leaders.
Bush administration with its road map for civil nuclear deal has set a
year-end deadline for the India to wrap up negotiations with IAEA and
the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Nicholas Burns said time was running out on concluding the deal."The
(US) Congress is waiting for this agreement to be sent to it;they
clearly want to see it soon, and I do not think it is possible for us
to succeed by getting it into Congress too late in 2008," said Burns on
Tuesday." “We have established a strategic partnership which is
meannigful and important for both of the countries, we want to continue
that strategic partnership - the symbolic centerpiece of it has been
the Civil Nuclear Accord," said Burns.

The time line has been set. But with the Congress and UPA willing to
negotiate with the Left on the pace of movement on the 123
agreement,the deal itself might be in jeopardy.
An option open to withdraw support or to put moral pressure on the
government, the Left parties have synchronous talks with the Third
Front on a possible floor acid test against the Indo-US nuclear deal.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat had a meeting with Samajwadi
Party chief Mulayam Singh who is elevated as Chairman of UNPA and his
TDP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu as Convenor of UNPA, in lieu to
have discussed floor strategic coordination which is needed to show
strength at the time of vote of no-confidence. Next best option with
third front to work to have UNPA majority power for remaining term.
The four hour parleys is seen as important one at a time when a growing
unease has been witnessed in ruling UPA on the nuclear issue with non-
Congress constituents of the alliance having certain reservations.
UPA has in media conveyed that,The operationalisation of the
controversial Indo-US nuclear deal has been put on hold till the UPA-
Left committee on the issue gives its findings. “The members of the
committee expressed the hope that the issues currently before it would
be addressed in an appropriate manner and the operationalisation of the
deal will take into account the committee"s findings," a statement read
out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said after a meeting
of the UPA-Left committee on the deal.
The next meeting of the committee, which may be its last, will be held
on November 16 when the panel is expected to come out with its findings.
SP general secretary Amar Singh, residence where the meeting was held,
media in its total glare, he described Left parties as ‘natural
allies". The Third Front, statement said, as United National
Progressive Alliance (UNPA), is for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to
be formed on the nuclear deal, a demand supported by opposition BJP.