CPI-M on Friday appeared to play down strident remarks of another Left party CPI that the honeymoon with UPA government was over and it was time to withdraw support.
NEW DELHI: Now it’s official. The honeymoon is over, but no divorce. The stability of the UPA-Left marriage is assured after government interlocutors and senior Left leaders agreed on a face-saving formula for both.
While the government insists that there is no question of renegotiation of the 123 Agreement, it may go slow on “operationalisation” to satisfy the comrades.
Indications of a thaw in their bitter relations in the wake of 123 Agreement, were available late Thursday night after a meeting between senior CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and parliamentary affairs minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi at the instance of Prime Minister on the eve of the crucial politburo (PB) meeting.
Even before the two-day PB meet (Friday-Saturday) to discuss the Indo-US nuclear deal and the draw the bottomline in the event of the UPA government deciding to go ahead with “operationalising” the deal came to an end, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, much to the relief of the government, said, “The honeymoon may be over but the marriage can go on.”
Karat’s conciliatory remarks were in sharp contrast with his CPI counterpart AB Bardhan, who had on Thursday night, told a private television channel that “honeymoon with the UPA government is over and withdrawal of support to the Centre appeared inevitable.”
Welcoming Karat’s comment as an indication of the Left’s continued support the government, Dasmunsi thanked him saying that “time has come to carry on with domestic life”.
The PB lowered the pitch after interlocutors assured that the government, while sticking to its decision of “no renegotiation” would go slow on operationalising the deal. And that it would get objectionable and extraneous clauses scrapped.
The politburo discussed the government offer and West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee briefed the Prime Minister about the PB deliberations when they met over dinner.
Buddha later apprised party colleagues his talks with the PM. The PB, sources said, will go public on Saturday whether or not it is satisfied with the outcome of parleys with the government on the nuclear issue.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}