Retributions  

Is B.J.P the new Left?

It is perhaps understandable why the Communists are so opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal. Still caught in the rhetoric of cold war, their opposition to United States is ideological. Unable to reconcile to the dynamics of the changing world order, they still yearn for the return of the good old times. For them the nuclear deal is another manifestation of India’s growing closeness to United States, and hence–it must be opposed.

What is more surprising is B.J.P’s vehement opposition.The Atal bihari Vajpayee government conducted the nuclear tests of 1998. To their credit, by deploying some deft diplomacy they brought India out of the post-test isolation. Even more importantly, they broke the ideological shackles of Nehruvian non-alignment and brought India closer to United States. In fact, they openly declared India and US as natural allies. The negotiations for the nuclear deal stater during Vajpayee’s watch. They would be entirely justified in claiming at least partial credit for the eventual deal.

Instead, they have launched a shrill and vitriolic campaign against the government. So palpable is their desperation to embarrass the government, that they are even ready to break bread with the Communists, their ideological foes, who have always treated the B.J.P as pariah.

To be fair, the warning bells have been ringing since their defeat in the 2004 elections. Gradually, with the marginalization of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the hardliners again began to occupy the center stage. A confused and desperate leadership still seems unable to recover from the 2004 loss. In fact, they seem increasingly intent on repudiating their own agenda; from liberal economic reforms to better relationship with America.

It is time for B.J.P to do some soul searching. Do they themselves as a natural party of governance or think that like the Communists they too are destined to occupy the opposition benches for ever? Because if they perceive them self as government-in-waiting, then they must act as one. Their inability to see that national interest and their own self-interest coalesce in supporting the deal is intriguing to say the least.

Politically, they unlikely to benefit from mid-term elections. The N.D.A is in virtual disarray, and B.J.P is still years away from coming to the power on its own. Worse, even if the Left withdraws support, it has nowhere else to go. In the post election scenario, it will again be forced to extend support to a Congress government. It is entirely reasonable to conclude that in case of a mid-term poll, the current government would be returned to the power.

Then what purpose would be served by B.J.P’s current antics? It’s time for B.J.P to seize the initiative and isolate the Communists. As this blog has noted before, the B.J.P and the Congress have more in common than the unnatural coalition which currently rules India and it is in India’s long term interest that they come together. It would also serve to end B.J.P’s growing political isolation. Even if its difference with Congress are irreconcilable, at least, the two parties can cooperate on issues of vital national importance. Much of the economic agenda of the U.PA government is in doldrums precisely because of the inability of the Congress and B.J.P to cooperate.

As The Acorn has noted, the nuclear deal has been marked by some extremely bad politics. Is the B.J.P prepared to make amends?