New Delhi
11 November 2005
A United States think tank has said that Mr
Natwar Singh's resignation as external affairs minister is in line with
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attempt to shift New Delhi toward an
alignment with Washington.
Observing that it "signals India's intent to make relations with the United
States as warm as Naan bread straight out of a Tandoori oven," a Stratfor
report said that besides the allegations over his involvement in the
United Nations oil-for-food programme, another major sticking point cost
him his job is the "Islamic Republic of Iran."
The report noted that Mr Natwar Singh was at odds with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh over the Iranian nuclear debate. "[Mr Natwar Singh]
promoted an agenda of resistance to US pressure to vote against Iran at a
vote of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."
It went on to state that the timing of Mr Natwar Singh's dismissal and a
scheduled November meeting of the IAEA on Iran's nuclear activities
"conspicuously parallel US interests."
While observing that the Manmohan Singh Government may not wish to
rock the boat with Washington at this juncture especially with the civilian
nuclear deal sitting before the US Congress, the Stratfor report said that it
will, however, "take great care to ensure that any IAEA statements adopt a
softened stance on Iran".
On the opposition by the Left parties, the report stated dismissively that
the Congress has enough "domestic economic leverage to appease West
Bengal's Left-wing Government." It observed that the state wanted to
provide employment opportunities to boost its services sector by opening
up to more US call centres.
"While the Left-wing parties will employ anti-US rhetoric to maintain
legitimacy among their constituency, Congress can use economic
incentives as a bargaining chip with CPI and CPI(M) in advance of West
Bengal elections in May," it added.
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