Battle-lines

Parliament went into recess on March 16. But before that the government decided to back off in the Lok Sabha on introducing the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010. The Bill’s introduction has been deferred due to the spirited opposition from the BJP and the Left and both were prepared to call a division on the legislation. But the government’s decision to this effect was also prompted by the low attendance of the MPs belonging to the ruling UPA in the Lower House—an embarrassment for the Congress in general and the PM in particular. It is no secret that Dr Manmohan Singh was keen to ensure early passage of the Bill (whose provisions are patently detrimental to national interest as has been cogently argued on the following page) as it is critical to the operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal since no US company will come to India for investment in this field until and unless this specific legislation (which is totally in favour of American suppliers) is adopted in Parliament and made into a law.

However, the retreat by the government appears to be only tactical. According to latest reports, the National Security Adviser’s detailed briefing before a select group of Congress MPs and spokespersons is indicative of the government’s resolve to mount an offensive shortly on the subject; the US too is learnt to have been assured that the Bill would be introduced in Parliament in the Budget session itself, that is, after the recess.

With the Opposition unconvinced of the govern-ment’s rationale behind defending the legislation, battle-lines have been drawn. And not just the BJP/Left, even the Trinamul Congress seems to have strong reservations on the Bill. In fact there is a feeling of sell-out among large sections of MPs who feel it has been crafted to pander to US business interests just as the Indo-US nuclear deal, in the opinion of many, was drafted to satisfy Washington’s overall interests. It will be difficult for officials like the NSA to remove such feelings even if the Congress MPs come out in stout defence of the Bill on technical grounds.

Meanwhile the UP CM’s lavish and vulgar display of wealth and money power—reflected in the garland of currency notes worth crores of rupees she accepted at the massive BSP rally at Lucknow to mark the party’s 25th anniversary—has rocked the Lok Sabha with members from all sides calling for a CBI probe. That this had no effect on the BSP supremo is clear from her acceptance of more such ‘currency garlands’ even after the furore in the Lok Sabha. This manifests a new low in Indian politics while bringing out the gulf between Mayawati and her mentor, Dr B.R. Ambedkar (not to speak of Rammanohar Lohia, whose birth centenary we are observing on March 23).

But are our MPs, shouting hoarse against Mayawati on this issue, prepared to wage a concerted battle against such misconduct instead of just registering their formal protest? There is no direct answer to this question as yet.

March 18 S.C.