| Published on 21-07-2008 In General | | Viewed 1037 times | | The unfolding "greek tragedy"—did Manmohan Singh "bargain" for this "deal"? |
|
| Written by
Girish Nikam | 
During the last over a year and half when the nuclear issue dominated(it continues to dominate) the media space, this column had consistently taken a stand that though it looked like a personality clash between two people, Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh and CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, superficially, it was in fact an ideological clash. There has been no other issue in the past few decades which has lead to such an intense ideological debate in the country.
But one is now being forced to eat one's own words, as one watches with a mixture of sadness and disgust, the machinations leading to the confidence vote which Dr.Manmohan Singh has decided to take on July 22. It doesn't need a political analyst to point out that in this last week or so, the polemics over the nuclear issue, which enriched the national consciousness enormously, has given way to ugly numbers game and discussions over who is getting what and how much to vote for or against the confidence motion.
The ideological underpinning of the entire debate, thanks to the scholastic interventions by the left to begin with and also equally forceful arguments against it, has now been reduced by the UPA Government, to its only concern----to get past the 272 mark, or to get one more vote than the opposition. It may just be able to do it too, and Dr.Manmohan Singh may well declare that he has the majority support in the lok Sabha. But can he really touch his heart and say that all those who voted for him have voted in favour of the nuclear deal?
Leave that aside. Can this, arguably the most spotless and cleanest Prime Minister India has had, convince himself--- forget the world--- that the means he, his colleagues and associates and new found friends, have adopted was the cleanest to win that vote?
Can he claim at the end of the day that he now has a consensus, which he had assured he would work out, to go ahead with the deal with America?
What Dr.Manmohan Singh has unleashed by "becoming political" and a "strong" Prime Minister, is something which has not just shaken the roots of an unique secular relationship forged by Sonia Gandhi with the assistance of CPI(M)s nonagenarian stalwarts, H.S.Surjeet and Jyoti Basu, but has also brought back into centre stage the ugly face of Indian politics--- politics of "brokering" and defections. One is reminded of the sordid JMM episode when Dr.Manmohan Singh's benefactor, P.V.Narasimha Rao saved his Government in 1993 by all means fair and foul, latter mostly. And now he as well as his latest benefactor, Sonia Gandhi are both quietly watching a repeat of 1993, even as they go around harping over the benefits of the nuclear deal. They are now joined by the heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi, who recklessly declared, "even if we lose the Government we will go ahead with the nuclear deal", just the other day.
This rather extra-ordinary display of cussedness by all three principals of the Congress party, even as some of the most respected nuclear scientists like Dr.P.K.Iyengar, Dr.A.Gopalakrishnan and Dr.A.N.Prasad pleads with the MPs and the Prime Minister in an open letter to allow more debate and deliberations before going ahead with the deal, smacks of arrogating to themselves the best interest of the country.
Not just that. Though the common wisdom about the reason for the present state of political uncertainty in the country is Dr.Manmohan Singh's making, the fact that Sonia and now her son, have come out whole-heartedly in his favour, cannot absolve them of the responsibility. And now as the bitterness between the Congress and the left parties reach a crescendo, with the Congress spokespersons unleashing harsh words against their erstwhile ally, they seem to be unmindful of the post-election scenario, when they may just need the left again.
On the other hand, the process set in motion by Dr.Manmohan Singh, which as one senior left leader described as akin to a "greek tragedy", has also forced unlikely relationships emerging on the opposition front. Now who could have thought a month ago that Prakash Karat would drive down to meet Mayawati and the two would come out smiling from ear to ear! Here is a Comrade, arguably the most dogmatic after B.T.Ranadive, making common cause with a leader of a party which bases its existence on rallying caste forces, when his party refuses to lift its blinkers to recognize the existence of caste. Is it the dawn of a new and pragmatic thinking among the Marxists in India? Maybe it is too early to jump to such hasty conclusions.
Another aspect of this "greek tragedy" we are witnessing is the way in which the UPA Government suddenly finds itself in the grip of corporate "brokers" and "wheelers-dealers", whose one point programme seem to be to either win the confidence motion or defeat it at any cost. Yes, there is a strong corporate lobby working against the continuation of the UPA Government too. Ostensibly these wheeler-dealers have been approaching the MPs and offering such huge amounts that one MP who virtually went into hiding, told this columnist before going, that it was becoming so difficult to resist it, that he was getting away from Delhi and switching off his phones.
And the tragedy is that none of the big players on either side have any control over these wheeler-dealers who have an agenda of their own.
Remember the nuclear industry in America is waiting with bated breath for the deal to come through, so that the estimated $ 160 billion worth of contracts can open up. And also remember that there are certain corporate houses in India and also abroad which is feeling threatened with the new alliances stuck by the UPA Government, which can harm their interests if this Government continues.
Did Dr.Manmohan Singh bargain for the kind of "bargains" which he has unleashed, when he took the entire country and his own party by surprise, when he insisted on ditching the left parties and going ahead with the deal? Unfortunately when this entire greek tragedy is played out, whether he wins or loses the confidence vote on July 22, he would not only end up with a bitter taste in his mouth, but would also have forced it in the entire nation's mouth. Time for introspection for the genial Sardar and his benefactor. |
|
|
|
|
| Social Web |  |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Processing please wait ...
Top Stories
