123 is not as easy as 1 2 and 3, more so with the left firmly keen on opposing every move in the positive direction. I wonder what is the ideology behind left’s stubborn stand.

I’m not sure I understand the deal completely but going through the articles, blogs and having listened to the various representatives on the popular NDTV show ‘The Big Fight’ , two things are pretty much evident. The first is that BJP’s opposition to the deal is insincere and cynical. BJP would have grabbed a similar deal with both hands. Also supporting the fact is the view that Jaswant singh had actually agreed to sign the CTBT in NDA’s regime while his government was misleading the parliament.

The second thing that now I am convinced of is left is not opposed to the idea of India signing the nuclear deal but to the fact the deal is being signed with America. Had Russia been on the other side I am ready to bet that there would have been no opposition from Left. Supporting my statement is the fact that when India went nuclear, most of the parties welcomed the tests. The exception was the CPM, which was against weaponisation. How strange then to hear the Left oppose the nuclear deal on the grounds that we would have to sacrifice our nuclear capability and would not be allowed to conduct more nuclear tests.

So what is it that makes Left anti Americans? Perhaps the answer takes us back to Cold War Era. In those days you had to make a choice between America and the communist world. ( unless, like India, you chose to be non aligned.) These are people who made that choice and who decided that they would spend their lives opposing America. The Cold War Era ended nearly two decades ago, and their side lost. But Left leaders have not forgiven America for winning and nor have they given up on their visceral hatred of the US and what it represents. Communism lost the battle a long time ago a fact not yet accepted by Left leaders.

I can go on questioning the Left’s credibility but I’ll leave that topic for some other time.

The 123 substantially meets Indian concerns, the ‘red lines’ which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid out in the parliament. The agreement meets concerns on reprocessing spent fuel, assures it of nuclear supply and crucially, DOES NOT STOP India’s right to test a nuclear device, if required. It permits nuclear trade, transfer of components ,expertise and cooperation in the civil nuclear area between India and US.

It allows India to create a reserve of nuclear fuel and provides guarantees for perpetual supply of fuel in case of a problem. India has to place its civilian reactors under IAEA safeguards, and will build a dedicated reprocessing facility.

Whats more the 123 handed over to china does not meet all of their concerns. I used the phrase ‘handed over’ because US has not given them privileges which have been extended to India and also has denied couple of their demands. Still China signed it because it they realize its scope in the development.

All the above arguments make me wonder what the Leftists , who we once saw as ideology driven, regard as their ideology. It is hard to identify an ideological centre from which their objections emanate