All indications suggest that the last round of negotiations between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Indian officials in Vienna are on track.
Time enough for govt to push N-deal with US
NEW DELHI: All indications suggest that the last round of negotiations between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Indian officials in Vienna are on track and the India-specific safety protocol could be wrapped up.
This will pave the way for the government to try and take the Indo-US nuclear deal forward in an effort to close the formalities before the Bush Administration demits office this year.
Officials are tight-lipped on the details of the agreement with the IAEA, choosing to say that most of India’s concerns have been addressed but one more sitting at least is needed.
There is some quibbling over the language of the text. India’s wants a clause on uninterrupted fuel supply as well as reprocessing rights written into the agreement with the nuclear watchdog.
The government has to get the approval of the Left before giving the final nod. If the Left disapproves the deal is stuck. CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury met foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday; the speculation was that he was briefed on the IAEA negotiations. But Left sources said it was a routine meeting which happens regularly when parliament is on.
The CPI(M) is also not giving out much on its views about the negotiations, saying the government will brief the party after which it will decide. But few believe the Left will want to be part of the nuclear deal, because of its ideological opposition to the US.
The challenge before the government is to convince the Left that a nuclear deal with the US will help India to work out deals with both Russia and France. Both these countries are waiting for the NSG waiver to come through to start nuclear business with India.
Non-political supporters of the deal with the US believe the government will push it even if it means a break with the Left.
“The signs are there for all to see. The government will go for elections at the end of the year and also push through the nuclear deal, which will go to the US Congress by the end of July,’’ says K Subrahmanyam, an ardent supporter of the deal.
He believes there is a window of opportunity for the government once the union budget is passed by the end of April.
If the Left refuses to play ball, the administration will go ahead anyway. The fact that president Prathiba Patil also mentioned the government’s commitment to the nuclear agreement during her address to both houses of parliament is being interpreted by some as a signal to the Left.
“If the government shows some resolution even at this stage, there are good chances of getting the Indo-US deal through,” said Naresh Chandra, former Indian ambassador to Washington, another supporter of the deal.
But the hard reality of electoral politics — the Congress will again need the Left to form the next government — may halt the entire exercise. inning elections will after all be the most important consideration for any political party and if the Left is adamant the government may let the deal go.
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