New Delhi: The Government is not giving up on the Indo-US Nuclear deal just yet. On Monday, it assured Parliament that it will seek a political consensus before pushing it. The consensus though still seems elusive.
External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee said in Parliament on Monday: "We will continue to seek broad political consensus within the country to take forward our political engagement with other countries"
His statement was just another attempt by the Government to reach out to all, especially the Left, on the nuclear deal. The Government also reiterated that the Hyde Act will not be binding on India.
However, even the three paragraph statement by Pranab Mukherjee on the deal did not go down well either with the Left or with the Right.
BJP leader, V K Malhotra said, "If the Hyde Act is not going to be applicable on India, then let the US government or the US president say so."
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury added: "Under the Hyde Act, anything that's signed will be a frontal attack on India's sovereignty."
All eyes are now on the meeting between the UPA-Left panel — likely to take place in the near future. For now though, the Government will hold discussions with US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher who arrives in India on Tuesday.
The question that everyone is asking now is whether this is the end of the road for the nuclear deal or is there some compromise still possible.
The answer may like in what choice the UPA Government makes — a full term in power or sacrificing the Government for the nuclear deal. Either way, it's a big, big deal.
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