The Hindu Business Line : Govt gets support of key allies for nuclear deal

New Delhi, June 19 The Congress-led Government’s all-out efforts to push ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal in the face of continuing Left opposition received added boost on Thursday, with key constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) pledging their support for operationalising the agreement.

The most vocal backing for the Centre inking an India-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - which is a precursor for the deal being placed for approval by the US Congress - came from the Union Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, Mr Lalu Prasad.

The deal is “necessary for the country’s development” and it will be “unfortunate” if it doesn’t come through, Mr Prasad said, adding that by signing the agreement, “we are not becoming a slave of America”. Equally emphatic was the spokesperson of the DMK, Mr T.K.S. Elangovan, who stated that “we will support the Congress on the issue”.

Enlisting unequivocal support from allies and presenting a united front in favour of the deal -- unlike about eight months ago - is seen to be crucial for the Government, which appears headed for an imminent showdown with the 60-member Left parties this time round. The UPA-Left Committee that was scheduled to meet on Wednesday put it off to June 25.

“They have time till June 25 and they have to make up their mind by then. If they go ahead, we will have to reconsider our support (to the Government)”, the CPI (M) leader, Mr Sitaram Yechury, said while reiterating the Left’s opposition to the deal.

But not all allies have gone the whole hog in extending support to the Government’s seeming determination to take on the Left. The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, was quoted as saying “It is our duty to take our friends and whosoever has supported us for four-and-a-half years into consideration before taking a final view (on the nuclear deal)”.

Some of the allies -- and even a section from within the Congress -- are also apparently wary about general elections taking place in the event of the Left withdrawing support.

Elections are seen as not particularly welcome, at a time when wholesale inflation is headed towards double-digits.