Special Correspondent
Discussions with Left any time: Pranab
New Delhi: “There is no danger to the Government,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted on Saturday, and ruled out any possibility of mid-term general elections.
The observation came in the wake of seeming political uncertainty caused by his remarks, reported in The Telegraph on Saturday, that he had told the leaders of the Left parties that if they wanted to withdraw support to his Government [over their opposition to the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal], “so be it.”
After the swearing-in of the Vice-President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime Minister told mediapersons: “We stand by our commitments given in Parliament [on the deal]. There is no danger to the Government. All problems will be resolved.” Asked then whether there was going to be mid-term elections, he countered: “Why are you saying so?”
At the same venue and in response to a similar question, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was categorical in her answer: “No, no, no.”
Ms. Gandhi’s observation seemed to reflect the Congress concern that Dr. Singh’s remarks to the newspaper — which were highlighted by TV channels should not be allowed to get out of hand.
Possibly in response to the manner in which Dr. Manmohan Singh’s remarks were being projected by the media, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat issued a statement reiterating the party’s “consistent” opposition to the nuclear cooperation agreement. It said: “After the Hyde Act was adopted by the United States containing unacceptable conditions, the CPI(M) has been asking the government not to proceed with the negotiations for the bilateral (123) agreement. We do not share the optimism that India can become ‘a great power with the help of the U.S.”’ Mr. Karat reiterated that “the Prime Minister and the government must realise that this agreement is not acceptable to the majority in Parliament.” He added: “As far as the approach to the government is concerned, we will take our own counsel.”
At the Rashtrapati Bhavan, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury noted concordantly: “[The] PM has his counsel, we will go by our counsel.”
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said discussions could be held with the Left parties at any time.
