UPA-Left jostle over fate of N-deal

India is just a step away from sealing a draft agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the government is trying really hard to get some support from the Left and the BJP, both of them have dug in their heels so far. A meeting with the Left is expected in mid-March, but on Wednesday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached out to his predecessor Atal Behari Vajpayee in terms that he has never used before.

''Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics Atal Bihari Vajpayee should listen to his conscience and let national interest prevail upon narrow politics,'' said Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. The prime minister asked the opposition's tallest leader to support the Indo-US nuclear deal, but before the government can take any step, it needs to have the Left on board. Sources told NDTV that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to meet Left leaders before his visit to the US in the third week of March.

The government will not only discuss the outcome of the IAEA discussions but also express its desire to start discussions with the Nuclear Suppliers Group or the NSG. Sources said that the government wants to tell the Left that talks with NSG countries is essential. Not only to get clarity on issues such as uninterrupted fuel supply but also negotiate with other nuclear powers like Russia and France. However, the Left is clear: the consensus is against the deal and the government should not proceed; if it does it has to face early elections.

''If they go ahead, we have already said they will have to face the consequences,'' said Basudev Acharya, leader, CPI(M). There are two views within the government; one section believes that after a populist budget the government can easily face an election. However, the other section says what happens if there is hung Parliament in the next general elections as well. Won't the congress need Left support once again? Now the government has to make a political call. The Indo- US nuclear deal has come with its own set of problems and I wonder how things will unfold in the future. This news is from NDTV 24x7, India’s most respected news channel through my DirecTV connection.