The government has launched a media blitzkrieg on the N-deal. Prime minister Manmohan Singh took the lead, inviting some editors for a briefing on the subject on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI: With less than a week for the crucial vote of confidence in parliament, the government has launched a media blitzkrieg on the N-deal. Prime minister Manmohan Singh took the lead, inviting some editors for a briefing on the subject on Tuesday.
Speaking for the first time since the break with the Left parties, Singh appeared confident of winning the confidence vote in parliament and of the deal going through. He put up a stout defence of the deal saying the IAEA safeguards agreement will enable India to co-operate in civil nuclear energy with all 45-member countries of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The PM told the editors that the deal would “neither compromise the country’s strategic programme nor would it affect the country’s independent foreign policy”.
The Congress meanwhile has begun fine-tuning its plans to consolidate support for the government ahead of the vote. All 153 Congress Lok Sabha MP’s in addition to the MP’s belonging to all the other constituents of the UPA along with those from supporting parties have been asked to be present in the capital from Friday.
From Saturday, both the PM as well as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will brief these MPs in small groups on the nuclear deal as well as the reasons that led to the break with the Left. Both Sonia as well as Manmohan will likely host a dinner for all the MPs supporting the government.
The UPA’s political managers are leaving nothing to chance and contact has been made with all its MPs whether in India or abroad. Parliamentary affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said all UPA MPs have returned to the country. UPA managers have also been in touch with MPs who are hospitalised and arrangements have been made to ensure they are brought to parliament in time for the vote.
j_ansari@dnaindia.net
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