Karat leaves govt unshaken on deal

NEW DELHI: Unfazed by Prakash Karat’s latest salvo about the Indo-US nuclear deal, top government officials have noted that the December-end deadline given by Karat gives enough time for the government to finalise and freeze the text of the India-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A team from the Department of Atomic Energy is already in Vienna to begin the second round of consultations with the IAEA. “We are confident of finalising the agreement before the month is over,’’ said a top official on condition of anonymity.

The fact that the next meeting is slated for Monday is a clear indication that India wants to wrap up the negotiations as soon as possible. Once the agreed draft is completed, India’s job is over.

For the moment India does not need to sign on the IAEA agreement. That will happen only after the US congress gives its nod to the 123 Agreement.

``There is nothing the MEA can do now, the final call will have to be taken by the politicians,’’ said retired foreign service officer Arundhuti Ghosh. But strategic expert K Subrahmanyam is confident that the Indo-US agreement will go through.

``Prakash Karat’s remarks can’t do much harm. Everyone knows the Left and the Congress will have to part ways before the next parliamentary elections.

The main opposition for the Left will be the Congress in both Kerala and West Bengal. So, the Communists can pull the rug now or six months from now but the government can still go ahead and get the deal done,’’ he said.