A trade-off over Nandigram: BJP

The BJP came down heavily on the Left for allegedly softening its stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal following its own difficulties in Nandigram in West Bengal.

Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha said the "climb-down" by the Left on the nuclear deal was the result of a "trade-off" between the government and the CPI(M) over Nandigram and said the "compromise" had "exposed" the Marxist party's "drama" over opposition of the deal.

"The moment they got into political difficulties because of Nandigram they came forward to compromise with the government on the deal and offered concessions," Sinha said.

His comments came after the Left appeared to have toned down its opposition and given green signal to the government to begin talks with the IAEA on the deal.

The party, however, could not mask the fact that it was now feeling it had lost a chance to be one-up on the government. "This development has left us feeling a bit left out, since our main aim was to get the government to take us more seriously on the deal," said a senior leader.

An indication of this was apparent in senior BJP leader L K Advani's statement yesterday that had the government taken the BJP into confidence earlier in the process, they would have provided a "way out" for the government.

The party, despite the public posturing and certain genuine grievances, is more or less not opposed to taking the Indo-US strategic partnership to the next level, but with the Left softening its stand, the BJP's acceptance or rejection of the deal has become redundant. "That is what hurts the most," said the senior leader.