No Free Parking, Turn Right

Is the Left bending over on the nuke deal because of the nation-wide outrage on the CPM's nasty role in Nandigram?

Pranay Sharma Delhi

Some blame it on Nandigram; others give credit to sound reasoning. But after months of tough posturing, the Left parties have blinked. They have now decided to allow the government to go ahead with its negotiations on the 'framework agreement' with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — something they had refused to grant till a few days back.

Critics of the proposed Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, who fear that because of it India was willing to put itself firmly within the American strategic orbit in Asia, are disappointed. They had hoped that the Left parties' stiff opposition to the deal that included its firm 'no' even on the beginning of talks with the IAEA would succeed in scuttling the proposed nuclear agreement. Now they see their hope for such a possibility waning.

For obvious reasons it has brought jubilations among supporters of the deal. Many of them now predict that the government would have a free-run to sign the agreement with the US.

So what has brought about this apparent change of heart among the Left leaders?

It could be a combination of factors, starting from the deteriorating political situation in West Bengal's Nandigram. The CPM-led Left Front has been in power in the state for the last 30 years - a unique feat, given the fact that few political parties have survived beyond two-terms in office in other states. But that has also contributed heavily towards their arrogance and rigidity and as a result, alienated large number of people, including many of their former sympathisers, friends and allies.

This year in particular has been bad for the state government. It has been besieged with a series of protests and agitations directed against many of its decisions and policies. Be it on Singur, where it proposes to set up an automobile factory with the Tatas, the rampant corruption in the public distribution system, or the handling of religious minorities or party-sponsored clashes in Nandigram backed by the state government. Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya, has been under severe criticism from different sections of the citizenry of Bengal, including some who have been comrades-in-arms of veteran CPM leader, Jyoti Basu.

It would perhaps be an understatement to say that the Left parties' image, particularly that of the CPM, has taken a serious beating in West Bengal and across the country. Not that everyone in the CPM is happy with the methods adopted by the chief minister to deal with the situation in Bengal. But the leadership refuses to acknowledge this in public. They might be worried that 'one-step-backward' in this case might not necessarily lead to 'two-steps-forward'.  They need time to recover and they would like to ensure that the Congress at the Centre does not add fuel to the Bengal fire.

Some see this is as a possible quid-pro-quo. But it could not be the only one that brought a change in the Left parties' stand. The Left still maintains that they have only allowed the government to start negotiations with the IAEA but they would want to see the final draft before it is signed with the agency. However, if one looks at the 'sequencing' agreed between India and the US to make the nuclear deal operational, the Left's stand seems more like an attempt to find an honourable exit from a tight spot.

India would have to start negotiations with the IAEA secretariat on the 'framework agreement'. Once both sides are satisfied with its outcome and the draft is ready, it would be put before the board of governors of the agency. Even after they approve it, India would only have to 'lock-in' its position — meaning agreeing to the wordings and provisions in the agreement — but it would not have to sign it. That would come much later.