The Left parties have asked the UPA Government to choose between the Indo-US nuclear deal or their support. Is the Left serious about this threat? Is India really heading for mid-term polls? CNN-IBN National Affairs Editor
Diptosh Majumdar answered readers' queries on these issues in a live chat on IBNLive.com on Friday afternoon.
Following is the full text of the chat (unedited):-
Mrigesh Das: Can you please tell me why you talk of India's sovereignty, why you make fool of Indian people? Please go and tell those people about sovereignty and all those emotion who have not read in depth about the 123 Agreement and Hyde Act. Please stop all this fabrication of Left being taking care of Indian sovereignty? It's a big joke when there is no issue of Indian sovereignty being broken.
Diptosh Majumdar: Yes, the Left has a different perspective of sovereignty and national interest which many, especially those in urban India, feel is completely out of sync with the changing times and the changing global reality
Mrigesh Das:Why is the Left opposing the deal?
Diptosh Majumdar: Not this deal alone, you have to look at it from the larger perspective. The Left is generally opposed to coming under what they say is the US strategic umbrella. They don't want such close military ties.
Amit:I doubt Left's intensions. However if it enforces a mid-term election, it would be better for the country to get rid of such unwanted blackmails. The country can prosper without the Left. Why is the UPA so afraid of these parties? People of this country are not fools. They have seen their loyalty to the nation in 1942, 1962 and fully convinced now for whose interest they have opposed the nuke deal!
Diptosh Majumdar: See, there's a problem here. The UPA, I believe at this point of time, can come back with better numbers. But that might not just be enough. They might still need Left support to some extent again. One never knows. In politics, you can't close doors forever.
MKBajaj:The Left is alleged to be batting for China and Pakistan. Do you agree with this postulation?
Diptosh Majumdar: Not entirely. Though it is entirely true that the Left views are based on its perception of international communism. Communism was for a long time perceived as a global ideology. That explains why the Left would want to view strategic issues in comparison with China.
Girish:As long as the Left is supporting the government, the country will not move in the right direction. If they withdraw support, it is good. Next polls, I am sure they will not come into power. People are waiting to through them out.
Diptosh Majumdar: From the point of view of elections being held early, the Left move may be suicidal for the Left parties. They'll come back with far less numbers. Electorally, this is not a wise move. But then they say they cannot have their ideology compromised.
Ashish Garg: I personally feel that the media supports the deal, so they are highlighting the mistakes of Left. Is it true?
Diptosh Majumdar: It isn't that simple. The Left has been questioning the entire tilt towards the United States. A majority in the media believes that tilt is a reality. I personally believe that the Left hasn't really comprehended the fact that a majority of decision-makers in this country believe that it is automatic for two largely free-market democracies to come closer.
Avinash: Don't you think going back and forth on the deal affects India's credibility in the global political scenario and threatening to withdraw support is the most immature way of handling the issue?
Diptosh Majumdar: Absolutely agree. It's very immature. What I feel strange is if the Left was going to take such a hardened view, it should have calibrated its position. Not stunned us with the now famous 'serious consequences' threat. We should have been given to understand long ago that it will come to this.
Chinmaya: Are we really going to benefit politically from the nuclear deal. I don't care about the energy part of it. I think we can manage without it.
Diptosh Majumdar: Not so much the energy part of it. But then India has been treated like a nuclear pariah for such a long time. We have suffered from nuclear apartheid just because we entered the race late. It should boost our ego to get this entry. We can't expect to be given the same kind of treatment which the five original member nations get.
Ratnakar: Why is the Left anti-US? We just can't afford to go against it?
Diptosh Majumdar: Frankly speaking, in 2005 the Left decided to engage with the reality. That was the phrase they used. They haven't done that despite surviving in a democracy. A Communist dictatorship like China has been grappling with changing realities for nearly 30 years now. They should have raised and addressed these ideological issues in their party forums long ago. Let me just explain that 2005 was the year when their last party Congress happened. The next party Congress will happen again in 2008.
MKBajaj: 'Face the Nation' is a good programme. But the anchors are always in a hurry. Why can't Rajdeep increase the duration of this programme or is it that you people don't want a clash with the timing of Karan Thapar's 'India Tonight' on your sister channel?
Diptosh Majumdar: Will definitely consider your suggestion.
Prathap VP: With the negatives of Nandigram in West Bengal and inter-party squabbles in Kerala, even in the wildest dreams the Left will never dream to get the same number seats as they have as of now if the mid-term election is held. Moreover, now they get everything without any responsibility. So do you think this undependable Left will withdraw support to UPA on this issue?
Diptosh Majumdar: The Left is taking a long-term view of its ideological position. Short-term, they stand to lose. That is why the Bengal lobby, we believe, is not entirely happy with the politburo stand. Even then if you are a student of the Left, you will know that nobody would come out in open opposition because it's a core ideology issue which has not been debated at party forums.
Diptarup Chakraborti: I can understand that the Left does not want to be in any significant tie-ups with the US. But why are they protesting now when the entire deal was discussed in Parliament? And if they do withdraw support, there is no way in heaven that they will get 59 seats, which even they know it's a fluke. They got 19/20 seats in Kerala. Do they really think they can repeat that? Even in WB, they will lower their tally? So why are they threatening so much?
Diptosh Majumdar: I have expressed a similar view. I think they didn't give the government enough reason to understand that they would take such a tough stand. Prakash Karat might disagree, but this is a lot embarrassing for a sovereign government to go to nuclear forums and say well, we don't have domestic backing.
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Vamsi: What if China offered the same technology to India on the same terms and conditions? Do you think the Left would still make noise about national Interest?
Diptosh Majumdar: That's a very interesting question. Am foxed. I promise I shall take that to my friends in the Left. But funnily, somehow I feel, since the Left still believes in a Cold War era communism, they would have probably agreed to any form of Chinese support.
RRanjan: I feel the Left is working as an agent of China. I fully endorse the PM's vision, and even the NDA would have done same.
Diptosh Majumdar: Too strong a view. But then, that is the impression the Left is creating. I think the other parties acknowledge the fact that global realities are changing and have changed long ago.
Kid:What does the lay person make of '123' and the current political crisis? How close are we to mid-term polls — can we afford it?
Diptosh Majumdar: Even the Left probably knows that this is too difficult an issue to go to the electorate with. Even they probably want delayed elections so that they can go to the voter with 'bsp' (bijli sadak pani) and easier price rise, inflation issues.
Prasad: When do you think would be the next General Elections?
Diptosh Majumdar: Sometimes after the next Budget is the best time for the Congress. If this confrontation would not have happened, the Left would have wanted it even later. April-May next year is what I assume at this point of time.
RKishore:Is Manmohan is good Prime Minister?
Diptosh Majumdar: Can you really judge a Prime Minister that easily bad or good. Besides, I don't like this journalistic urge to judge your contemporaries. I think Manmohan is a visionary when it comes to liberalisation. He is a great team person I am told, but his political sense is not good enough to deal with all the intrigues that go on all the time.
Ratnakar:Is the Left serious about the issue or they just want to prove that they are supreme and government can't function without there green signal?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think they are pretty serious. Their only worry is taking the blame for bringing down a secular government.
MKBajaj:How will the Indo-US deal affect the life of a man in the street?
Diptosh Majumdar: Not at all. At least for the time being. The Left believes the American companies will take the deal route to enter through the backdoor.
Mahesh:Why is the US bent upon this deal with India... or India (UPA) requires this deal.... to be signed off.... seems US will never lick when they don't have any benefit?
Diptosh Majumdar: Agreed. It's a huge market opening up for them. But given the global strategic scenario, if you are looking from the US perspective, you can make it out that they would rather go with India at this moment. After all, both are stable democracies and the Indian economic scenario is not fundamentally bad.
Diptarup Chakraborti: Is there any truth that the Left is still kowtowing to China/Russia lobby as they are being funded by them? Another point I would love to ask here is would Mr Surjeet have taken the same stance as Mr Karat has?
Diptosh Majumdar: The fund part is not a right insinuation. But I don't think Surjeet would have taken a very tough stand on this issue. But don't forget Surjeet had been twice vetoed by hardliners in the politburo, especially on that famous historic blunder question, the question of whether CPI(M) should join the government and Jyoti Basu should become the prime minister in 1996.
Tritoneman:Considering that the highest levels in the military, industry and foreign affairs have been involved in drafting this agreement, do you believe that it will be operationalised even if the current government falls? After all, the military isn't supposed to be affiliated to any political party.
Diptosh Majumdar: I think the world is not going to disrespect us for a democratic debate. In the long run, we might even gain from it though initially I fully agree that it does mean a huge loss of face. But there are also ways of skirting around deadlines. I am now told that for the IAEA safeguards agreement, all we need to do is to give two weeks' notice and then have the necessary meeting convened.
Anuja: I think our government should learn something from Lal Bahadur Shastri. How he had bashed USA?
Diptosh Majumdar: In a changing world, do you really need to take such a tough position. Even a country like China is doing more business with the US. Ideologically, politically, they are not the two countries who should be sharing such an understanding.
Teja: Do you think we should be really bothered about losing the sovereign right of testing the weapons because energy is such an important and integral part for the development of economy and the country needs it. We don't need weapons. We need development. We need better standard of living. Do you agree with me?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think, testing rights is not going to be such a huge issue in the long run. I think we must not read too much into BJP's opposition. That national interest being compromised from BJP's point of view sounds a bit like hypocrisy, because after all they had started this entire discussion of inching closer to the US. The BJP is opposed today more because it wants this government out. I doubt if they would have agreed to anything different had the party been in power.
Vini:What is your perspective of sovereignty?
Diptosh Majumdar: Sovereignty is a very complex issue in the 21st Century. We can only say for certainty that non-alignment is dead. I do believe that we can still work out respectable deals in a unipolar world and reserve our right to protest when unilateral decisions are made to attack/invade other nations.
Vamsi: What do you think will be the scenario after the next General Elections? Will the UPA get absolute majority? If not, what will the Left do? Will it still support the government?
Diptosh Majumdar: Absolute majority is difficult. I am yet to assess if the allies will do better. The DMK and the RJD are unlikely to improve their positions. But the Congress on its own can do better in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala.... It will do badly in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and can't do worse in Orissa. Maharashtra will be a crucial state. Gujarat will also play a key role. The Congress will do better than the BJP. The Left won 59 seats because luck favoured them in Kerala and West Bengal. That won't be repeated.
Observer:You say that the Left is creating an impression that it is working for China as an agent. I totally disagree with you. It is an impression that is being created by media pundits. If the Left is acting like an agent of China, what about the BJP, AIADMK, TDP, SP to name few non-Congress, non-Left parties and those former diplomats and nuclear scientists? Are they working as agents of China?
Diptosh Majumdar: I said just creating an impression. I think on the nuclear deal issue, the BJP's role is that of Opposition for the sake of the Opposition. And let me say that I don't give too much importance to foreign policy views of AIADMK, Telegu Desam and the Samajwadi Party.
Prathap VP: I do not think many of the present leaders believe in the idology. Many of the Left are sending their own children to the West, not to Russia or China. Mr VR KrishnaI is one among the oldest communist leaders whose son is in US. Same is the case with other leaders. Do you believe these leaders keep the idology which they do not practise, only to get votes. The Communists in Kerala have already discarded 'vada and chai'.
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Diptosh Majumdar: I think there are a number of Left leaders, including party General Secretary Prakash Karat, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achyuthanandan and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who lead austere and very simple lives.
Bindu Tandon: Yes! It looks like it. They are masters of lies and evasion and are so harmful to the nations' interest that they make me see red. They have managed a superb public relations coup over the last 10 days, projecting their position, using the deal as the peg for their opposition. In the meanwhile, West Bengal is catching up with economic progress while the Centre looks like a lame duck. I think clearly the Left wins in this situation at least among its supporters.
Diptosh Majumdar: Not that simple. I know the situation in West Bengal. I can guarantee that there are leaders who are ideologically inclined, but I can guarantee that at least 25 per cent of the cadre are cynical people more inclined towards making money in today's times. Their ideological perception is not worth commenting on and if the Left is a dispirited force in the next 10 years, it is because the party bosses are not sincerely addressing ideological confusion.
Baba: I feel the nuclear deal should wait till 2008 because I expect there is going to be strategic changes in US policies with the new President and also polls in Pakistan. We should work after observing this changing situations.
Diptosh Majumdar: Your views should suit both the Congress and Left.
P Gopala Krishna: Don't blame the Left for the inept handling of the affairs by the single largest party in the ruling alliance. Did they bother to have any type of consultations with the allies before taking any decision which concerns the nation. Foreign affairs are the only domain all these days since the days of Nehru where unanimity was there across the political spectrum. This UPA has said goodbye to that also. Partners need to be given an assurance that they were also involved in the decision-making process. Let the PM and Sonia ponder whether they have given that kind of opinion to their partners? Don't blame others for your own miseries?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think from BJP's times, the foreign policy shift has been happening quietly because the key ruling parties — the BJP and now the Congress — knew it wouldn't be acceptable to large sections in the Parliament, especially parties with strong bases in the Indian countryside. The Left also had its reservations. Looking from that perspective, this debate is actually not bad. I agree with you that there should be consensus on foreign policy issues, but then you must also realise how many takers are actually there in the political class for Manmohan Singh's liberalisation even after 15 years. There are policy decisions which we have to be introduced in this country because sometimes there is inexplicable resistance not always based on a genuine understanding of the reality. I sometimes wonder if the Left stand would have been different during a Democrat regime in the US.
Uncle Sam: By this anti-US stance, will the communists be successful in increasing their support base outside Bengal, Tripura and Kerala. Will the Indian electorate vote in favour or against in the nuclear issue or will it be pressing domestic issue like price rise, SEZ?
Diptosh Majumdar: Not at all.
Debasish Mitra: Has the prospect of facing a fresh election sobered the Left?
Diptosh Majumdar: Not entirely. They want elections, maybe not straightaway. They want elections knowing full well that they won't do as well.
Param:Are the Left and BJP right in criticising the government?
Diptosh Majumdar: Only to the extent that the government had not taken them along properly. On foreign policy issues, the government should have been more open. I think the Congress was always in two minds itself because it was afraid that if it forged closer ties with the US then the Muslim electorate would be upset.
Uncle Sam:Who precipitated the nuclear issue — Manmohan Singh or Prakash Karat?
Diptosh Majumdar: Both.
Suresh Samani: I guess mid-term elections will be announced any time after January 2008.
Diptosh Majumdar: Are you sure? Why not after the Budget? What is your reason for insisting on a particular date?
Atul Sondhi: Do you believe that the Congress won't mind a mid-term poll considering they can be such a force to reckon with Mayawati's support in UP. Even elsewhere, political wind is in their favour. So they won't mind if the Left fails to chicken out of the situation!
Diptosh Majumdar: Have said the Congress really won't mind except that sitting MPs are afraid because they haven't done much work in their constituencies and the allies are also afraid.
Sunil: Is there any other way of entering this agreement in case the Left pulls the plug?
Diptosh Majumdar: Yes, there are a number of options. This deal in itself should not have happened technically. The Americans and the Indians found a way out.
B2: Will it make any difference to the government? As the Left in no way will vote against the government in the floor test. So it will run as a minority government like the Deve Gowda govt?
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Diptosh Majumdar: But you can't really run a minority government for long without being completely hamstrung. The Congress on its own will be forced to call elections. The Left just wants that, not to take the responsibility of bringing down a secular government.
Surendera M Bhanot: The Congress had propped the Left as its baby since Independence and was inclined towards socialism of Russian pattern. The Congress always sought the assistance of the Left whenever they are in minority in Parliament. But the coalition has given an edge to the Left and Left started browbeating the Congress whenever and wherever required. The Left has a blind Leftist agenda and they peruse it even at the cost of the MCP (minimum common programme). The Congress is just a puppet in the hands of the Left. The Left also knows that in the next elections, they may not come in as much strength as they are now. So it is now or never, but avoid elections. So it's all stalemate. The interest of the country has been sent to the backseat. We should ban communism as many Western democracies has done.
Diptosh Majumdar: Very strong views, sir. That's not the way out. You need the Left as a conscience. All Western countries have a Left presence, but I agree as fringe players.
Vinay: Who will be the next prime minister?
Diptosh Majumdar: I don't think Sonia Gandhi is looking at anyone beyond Mannmohan. And as for the BJP, Rajnath Singhs don't matter. Advani will get the job.
Reji: The Left opposition is a mere gimmick, provoked by Manmohan Singh's statement in The Telegraph interview.
Diptosh Majumdar: Provoked by the interview maybe, but not a gimmick. I think this issue will be debated hotly in the next party Congress and all the party conferences that happen in the run-up to the Congress. The Kerala and Bengal conferences will see a number of questions which the Left leaders may have to answer.
Mahesh: Why is the Congress government (high command) bent on signing the deal. Is it because of the compulsions from the FBI for the cases against Rahul Gandhi?
Diptosh Majumdar: I completely disagree. That's a VHP insinuation.
Sandeep:How significant is it for India to go with the nuclear deal?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think it's one of the first steps to enter the big league. I don't think it benefits us hugely on energy. But there is a question of acceptability in the developed world. The strength of Indian democracy, the performance of the Indian NRIs in every sector are being respected the world over. We need to benefit from that respect and acquire greater strength as nation. In today's world, strength does not flow from the barrel of the gun, it flows from your acceptability as a nation with a mind, a deep-rooted culture, a nation with respect for human values and human rights.
BV Shenoy: Why is the media suddenly going from politics to history, raking up the role of the Communists during the Quit India Movement (when they openly supported the British and ran down Gandhi) and then the 1962 Chinese War against India (when they called India the aggressor and Mao our chairman)?
Diptosh Majumdar: The Left understanding of contemporary events like many other parties have not been the best at given points of time in Indian history.
CNN Reader: Are you surprised with what the Left has done? We have another 15 or so years when all this dust will start settling. Everyone wants to be heard. Would that be correct?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think more than anybody else, the Left needs a debate on how to position itself on the American question. They have not been debating in the post-Cold War context. The Left in India cannot be the World Social Forum left. Since they are in power in two states, they just can't be relegated to habitual protestors. They have to have a clear view on that. I have read many of Karat's pieces which are critical of American action. I have not read much on how to do business with America. I think Karat must realise that staying away from power in Delhi cannot give him the comfort of staying away from business completely. He needs to have the issue debated in party forums. The Left has been ideologically opposed to the US. The question is in the changed scenario, doesn't that ideological standpoint need re-evaluation?
Ramsingh: Do you believe in astrology and muhurta of oath ceremony of Manmohan Singh? Was it inauspicious? I feel the time of oath at 05.35 PM was not good for them. When the sun is not at its peak, the oath should have not been taken. As an astrologer, I feel that Left will withdraw support in September 2007.
Diptosh Majumdar: I don't believe in astrology, but I have no disrespect for others who believe in it.
Bhaskar: I don't think the Left will withdraw the support . It also knows that even after a fresh election either the BJP coalition (NDA) or Congress coalition (UPA) will have to come to power as the third front, UNPA, is not strong. So anyway, the next government — whether it is NDA or UPA — will proceed with the nuclear deal. So why after knowing all these Left is making so much of noise? Because 1) It needs to stand upon its basic ideology of opposing the US 2) It needs to show its weight to UPA. These things can only perhaps delay this deal implementation, but finally in any case it will be done.
Diptosh Majumdar: You are being optimistic. I think we shall have elections at a later date. But to avoid unnecessary costs, let's hope you are right.
Monu: I am not sure if you already answered these: 1) What is the argument given in favour of the N-deal when people against it state the fact that the extra power we would get after 20 years is only 5 per cent? 2) If we have the technology to build nuclear weapons, then why not make power too?
Diptosh Majumdar: Have explained why you cannot look at the nuclear deal in isolation from other larger issues.
Uncle Sam:Is the government in a hurry to ink the deal, just because Bush is the friendliest US President to New Delhi? What if the Democracts, who are likely to win the next election in US, stall it? The deal is for perpetuity and we cannot even wait for the next administration to ink the deal? Is Manmohan Singh taking the decision in a haste?
Diptosh Majumdar: I think there are ways of circumventing these problems. Your worries can be addressed. I think these regulations are not cast in stone.
Jane Journalist: Was wondering if the Left will wait for the Gujarat state elections to get over first and then might think of pulling the rug from under the Congress feet. After all, the Left withdrawl can't be seen as advantageous to the BJP. What do you think?
Diptosh Majumdar: The Gujarat elections are not an issue for the Left. They have taken a stand "not to operationalise the deal." If the government doesn't slow down, they'll reduce the government to a minority. The Congress can then assess its political chances and decide when to hold elections.
Piyush: Is it going to make any difference if the Left withdraws its support as in any case the Left is not going to vote with the BJP on the floor test. So the government will survive as a minority government as it was the case with Deve Gowda government.
Diptosh Majumdar: You cannot survive long as a minority government. You cannot be reduced to a Gowda or Gujral. You will not be taken seriously. When reduced to a minority, Vajpayee immediately went in a caretaker mode in April 1999. That's what people who hope to win elections do.
Ratnakar:Why is media always pro-Left and anti-right wing?
Diptosh Majumdar: I don't think that's true with all of us, not with me.
Kallol:I think most of the urban educated in India support the deal. I am not sure whether others fully understand it or its relevance. They are, however, the majority in terms of numbers and can be influenced to see the 'flaws' in the deal. No political party, especially in a coalition, can afford to ignore them and hence learning from the backfiring effects of the India Shining slogan of the BJP, the Congress may hesitate to go all out in supporting this deal.
Diptosh Majumdar: To some extent agreed. But I think the Congress is more careful because it has a minority votebank to think of. And there are reasons to assume that Indian minorities are not in a forgiving mood towards the US at the moment.
Mou: The Left seems more in a soup than the Congress government.
Diptosh Majumdar: Agreed
Raghavan: I think this N-deal is not a political issue, but should be viewed as an economic issue. what is your perspective?
Diptosh Majumdar: Agree completely. I think you have a deeper understanding of it than the most. Think of the economic implications 20 years from now. I think every step is a bargain. As a nation, we must extract the maximum advantage from the nations we are dealing with. Depends on how we are going to go about it. That's why we shouldn't reject these deals.
Ankur: Dear Sir, what justification does the Left have for not allowing the nuclear deal to happen? Weren't they vocal when it came to the Pokhran nuclear tests? The same party is ruing that India would lose its sovereign rights to conduct a nuclear test.
Diptosh Majumdar: This is what the Left is not being able to explain. On one hand, you oppose the nuclear deal, you even oppose Kalam's election because he is the father of Pokhran-II and then you are suddenly concerned about patriotic issues. I know the Left has reasons because they are against the larger strategic alliance with the US, but then you must be able to explain better why this change of heart.
Ravikumar: Is the Left playing the silent China card as their stern opposition to the nuclear deal is matching with the Chinese actions for delaying the deal or scuttling the deal at NSG and IAEA permanently. Would this not be the reason for the Left opposition to the N-Deal?
Diptosh Majumdar: I have explained that. I think the Left needs to explain why and how they are not playing a pro-China card. Let's hope they do that in their issue of 'People's Democracy'. Otherwise, they'll be more isolated in today's urban India.
Critic:I think a bit of opposition is not bad for the health of democracy. All those who want to deactivate Left opposition should know that the country would have been worse off without its campaign in education, rights, environment. Please remember that the Left is right in many issues. Do not get carried away by the 9 per cent GDP dream, which is far fetched. Having said that, let us remind the Left that it should shed its orthodoxy and learn to be flexible if it is serious about governance and sharing of power at the Centre.
Diptosh Majumdar: Agreed, yours is the most balanced view.... we all know we need the Left, but sometimes I wonder why the Left believes in an ideology of the fringe player.... why doesn't it think of being practical and come closer to a Social Democrat or a Labour Party as you have in Europe.
Indranil Banerjee: Do you think the Left has been influenced by China to some extent?
Diptosh Majumdar: Explained that just now.
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NNNNN:I can't believe that you are comparing the Chinese trading relations with the United States to the defence and strategic partnership between India and the US. Pray tell me, here is a deal which promises nothing immediately and nothing 'substantial' or financial viable in the long term for the ordinary Indian. That energy argument is futile. The next argument of transfer of technology is moot too. The US doesn't promise any significant change in dual technology transfer. The only argument, therefore, is strategic; which is fraught with dangers. In an unipolar world, it is common sense to balance this by forging a relationship with multi-polarity (so far defined by the Shanghai Cooperation Council). How do you say that forging a defence strategic relationship with the US will bot exacerbate the already bad relations with China and West Asia? The environs are doomed and so is a consistent and 'sine qua non' energy supplier. And how can you discount the latent anger of the minorities towards the unjust war in Iraq? The strategic angle is fraught with danger too. Now, is the left right or wrong?
Diptosh Majumdar: Well argued, sir. I would just ask you to look at the problem in its entire context. How far has the Shanghai Cooperation Council really travelled and how each of the countries involved are pursuing their own bilateral ties with other nations including the US?
NNNNN: Diptosh... you answered your own question. The SCO maintains its trading relations with the USA... so too must India. The Left doesn't argue against trading relations with the US. What it disagrees with is the strategic defence agreement and the steps taken in that direction. The Hyde Act is clear on issues such as Iran and also vis-a-vis defence treaties. Today, Bush might overrule the Act, but what about Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton or John McCain. Will they say that look, the 123 is supreme and not the Hyde Act? Why aren't you in the media focusing on this tale of 'game theory'?
Diptosh Majumdar: Can I give a very detailed answer to this? Why don't we sit down and have a cup of tea? And why are you intent on looking at the deal in isolation. Mr Karat in his PD article doesn't want us to do that. It's the larger issue of a strategic alliance with the US. I don't want to simplify and vulgarise the whole thing by asking a question like 'hasn't the world moved on?' The question is don't you think the Left needs to redefine itself in the 21st Century context? You cannot live with the hypocrisy of holding on to power in two provinces when actually you are relegating yourselves to the role of a habitual protestor, much like the fringe communist parties in Europe. I am all for opposing individual actions taken by the US Government, but not suffer from what is akin to inverted racism.
Anand Vaidya: You say that India needs the Left parties however idiotic they sound. But when it comes to right wing politics, i. e BJP, you start screaming. Media like IBN / NDTV are going to ridiculous lengths to demonise BJP. When it comes to Left, IBN / NDTV suddenly change tunes, why?
Diptosh Majumdar: I am not demonising the BJP at all. Only on the nuke deal, their objections are sounding a little too hollow. Have spoken to a number of BJP senior leaders who themselves know their stand would not have been different from that of the Congress. You are getting me extremely wrong. All I am saying is that the larger strategic alliance with the US is something which the NDA had started and was the pioneer of.
Nabarun Bhattacharyya: Hi Diptosh, in case of a mid-term poll, surely the Congress will oppose the Left tooth and nail on the ground in West Bengal, the largest donors of Left MPs in Parliament. With Trinamool joining hands with the Congress, the Left may lose heavily not only in Parliament but also in the coming Assembly polls. Is Left then up to a suicide?
Diptosh Majumdar: Exactly, but then the Left party structure in West Bengal is a great electoral machine. Even if it does too badly, I think the Left will still manage to win at least 29-30 of the 42 seats. The Trinamool has to grow organisationally in West Bengal. That seems some distance away.
Jain: First of all, world is changing. Now no country can fight a war alone. India does not need another nuke test. The 1998 nuke test was so powerful that it surprised to us. That was the most powerful nuke bomb. So do not dream. India has two most powerful friends — Russia and USA. So no country will think about it to fight against India. India needs the nuke deal for electricity. India has the largest thorium that can burn for thousand years. Thorium cannot burn without uranium. Maintain the nuclear weapons deterrent and continue weaponizing the armed forces. India is not laying down its Nuclear Weapons Programme. Is it not true?
Diptosh Majumdar: Hope your reasoning reaches the political minds in this country.
Manodz:Don't you think, all this drama is for bettter negotiations at IAEA and NSG?
Diptosh Majumdar: Sincerely hope you are right. Some of my friends believe this is bad for the agreement. I feel it allows the world to understand that we are a vibrant democracy.
KV: If they are, then I think they are inviting a big trouble for themselves. With this issue they won't be able to get even a single seat.
Diptosh Majumdar: That's an exaggeration. Their tally is going to come down.
Vamsi: Do you think that the Left is working under the orders from China?
Diptosh Majumdar: Dealt with the issue.
l Peter: Dear sir, we the people of India fail to understand why the deal could not be given a clean chit when the PM and experts are confident that the 123 Agreement does not contain any adverse clause that will make us puppet in the hands of US.
Diptosh Majumdar: Thank you for those views.
Vipul: What I can sense is General Election in 1-1/2 year, if Left and the Congress have to contest election against each other, they can't rule togather. That is why this drama is going on.
Diptosh Majumdar: Less than a year.
KHV: If we do SWOT analysis, the strength could be the resolve of the government, the Weakness: delaying the decision, Opportunity is energy security, Threat is possibility of government fall. Your take?
Diptosh Majumdar: Nice observation.
Sugato Hazra: Why is the Left supporting the cause that helps China and Pakistan? Is there any link between Chinese products moving into the Indian market through the so-called manufacturing set-up in Left-ruled West Bengal and the Left's strong support to the Chinese cause in the nuclear deal?
Diptosh Majumdar: Sugato, you know it's not as simple as that. At least I know you know.
Redhat: Hello sir. Will the Left ever come out of their world of 1950s and 60s? Will they ever behave like Indians? Why is the media like The Hindu support the Left so much?
Diptosh Majumdar: No comments on other media establishments.
Shekhar Das Chowdhury: Hi Diptosh. Wanted to know your opinion on the fact that if the Left and its allies really don't want an election (which will be blamed on them eventually), do you think they will pull down the UPA govt?
Diptosh Majumdar: The Left will pull down the government because it believes it is a core ideological issue, but I think they will give some time to Manmohan Singh before withdrawing support or forcing a withdrawal of support.
I think I have answered a number of questions. I hope I have not offended anybody. My only plea is that this is a sensitive issue in which you need to go beyond than merely taking sides. So, please don't reach easy generalisations or conclusions. This chat makes me proud that I live in a democracy where everybody is proud of the right to express herself/himself. Thanks. It was a wonderful hour that I spent chatting with all of you.
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