New Delhi
27 August 2007
The Congress party on Monday conveyed its willingness to set up a
mechanism for addressing the concerns of the Left parties over the proposed India-
United States civil nuclear cooperation agreement. An understanding on the nature and
composition of this mechanism, and the issues to be dealt with by it, was reached in
separate meetings with the leaders of the CPI(M) and CPI. However, the Congress party
hedged on whether it will carry on business as usual by going to the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) for signing an India-specific safeguards agreement although the
Left sought to suggest that an indication of not taking the next step towards
operationalising the 123 Agreement would be implicit in the formal announcement of the
mechanism.
"We are not opposed to a mechanism," CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan said after a
90-minute meeting with Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of
Defence AK Antony and Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed
Patel, "but if a mechanism is set up, then the next step should be stopped." He added for
good measure: "It cannot be business as usual." CPI National Secretary D Raja and CPI
Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta accompanied Mr Bardhan to the meeting
held at Mr Mukherjee's residence.
"We had a discussion on the issue of the opposition to the India-US nuclear cooperation
deal. We discussed all the questions. It was decided that a mechanism should be
worked out," Mr Bardhan said. It was agreed that the mechanism should be at the
political level. It will comprise leaders from the UPA and the Left. No "expert" will be a
part of this mechanism although experts, scientists or diplomats can be invited for
consultations as and when required. Mr Bardhan added that a formal meeting will be
held after the Congress leadership has concluded discussions with all the four Left
parties. "After they have come to a conclusion, a formal meeting will be held," he said.
Later in the evening, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Politburo member
Sitaram Yechury met with Mr Mukherjee, Mr Antony and Mr Patel. Mr Yechury indicated
after the meeting that the mechanism is likely to be set up soon. He said that
discussions have begun between the UPA and the Left and they would continue over the
next few days. The Congress party is expected to hold similar talks with the All India
Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Mr Yechury suggested that "some
results" can be expected by the end of this month. He added that the CPI(M) reiterated its
position on the India-US nuclear agreement, as reflected in the resolution adopted by the
central committee and the statement issued by the politburo.
In a statement on August 20, the Left parties had said: "[We] can understand the setting
up of a committee or any other mechanism which can go into the objections regarding
the agreement and evaluating the implications of the Hyde Act for the nuclear
cooperation deal. But this can follow only when the next step at the IAEA is not taken."
Despite the decision to set up a mechanism, both the Congress and the Left appeared to
stick to their respective positions. "We didn't budge and they didn't seem to be budge
either," a Left leader said. Meanwhile, sources said that the debate in Parliament is
likely to take place in the first week of next month, either on September 5 or 6.
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