Yes Mr Prime Minister, Now How About Some Grace?
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The B.J.P should support the nuclear deal but can India’s two largest parties stop treating each other as pariahs?
The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Sigh has appealed to former Prime Minister and B.J.P patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee to listen to his conscience and let the nuclear deal go forward.
Stating that the UPA government would seek the broadest possible consensus on the nuclear deal, Manmohan said, “I now urge the Bhishma Pitamah (grand old man) of Indian politics, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, to also listen to the call of his conscience and let the national interest prevail over narrow and partisan approach in politics.”[link]
It is indeed a welcome gesture albeit a belated one. After his Leftist allies have made it clear that they won’t support the nuclear deal at any cost, the Prime Minister has little choice but to appeal to B.J.P.
This blog has been very critical of B.J.P for opposing a deal for which it could have claimed much of the credit. It was the B.J.P government which took India away from the days of blind antagonism of America to a position where American and Indian interests are increasingly alinged. B.J.P may be have been short sighted in opposing the deal but has the Congress been any better?
By making opposing the B.J.P the fulcrum of its politics, the Congress has vitiated the political climate so much that India’s two largest parties are not even on talking terms. That they are increasingly becoming marginalized in an era of coalition politics seems to be lost on leaders of both parties. B.J.P and Congress can continue to vigorously oppose each other but does that preclude the possibility of talking on issues of national importance?
Perhaps, next time the Prime Minister of India feels the need for support of the largest opposition party, he should ask behind closed doors. Appeals to conscience and such theatrics are suitable for political arena and not for issues of national interest.
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