N-deal: Govt plays on Left's BJP fear

Left indicates it may take a softer stand if the current impasse benefits the BJP.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) congress, to be held soon, will be watched closely by the UPA government.

Top government officials say the meet is important as the CPI(M) has given an impression that in case an analysis of the country's political situation throws up any possibility that may benefit the BJP, the Left will take a softer line on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

To put pressure on the Left, senior government managers have played the BJP card. According to sources, the government reportedly told CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat that in the event of the BJP coming to power in the next elections, the Indo-US nuclear deal could be much less advantageous for India.

"Is the Left prepared to be held responsible for a deal that offered India less," a Congress leader told Business Standard.

This fear is being reinforced by former US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbot's remark that the NDA government was prepared to sign a nuclear deal that did not offer half as much as the present deal.

Apprehensions were also raised over whether the BJP, if it came to power, would be able resist US pressure to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty since a Democrat administration in the US would be less inclined to signing such a deal.

That the Left appears to be taking this seriously was clear in the careful choreography at yesterday's meeting it had with the government.

"The Left parties met hours before meeting the government and agreed they would not demand a look at the draft agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They were instead circulated a synopsis, which too was later taken back, and clarifications conveyed verbally by Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal," said a source in the government.

In fact, after the IAEA draft was finalised, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had met Karat and told him the agreement could not be made public.

"The government and the IAEA have an understanding that only the final agreement will be made public," said a source.

The Left's silence despite not being shown the text is a clear indication that it is ready to give and take some time and space on the issue.