DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI observes that Congress is treading the dangerous path by soliciting the support of Samajwadi Party, as it will have to accept many less-than-honest demands to placate the new partners. It may have to sacrifice some high ideals and values.
The Samajwadi Party’s 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha are not only going to change the parliamentary arithmetic, but also political equations: The Samajwadis would henceforth describe the Bahujan Samaj Party as a communal group for Ms Mayawati floated the story that Muslims in general are opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal. “Behenji” farcically played the religion card claiming that the principal minority is unhappy with the deal as it would jeopardise the accord for Iran gas pipeline. The BSP supremo may be known for many things but keeping promises is not one of them. How she cheated the BJP when the Saffron turn came to rule UP for six months is still fresh in minds.
EXCEPTIONS
Except the honourable exceptions, credibility is not the strong point of any political leaders, including the two Uttar Pradesh giants. Had not Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and more prominently Mr Amar Singh been consistently castigating the Congress leadership recently? Mr Amar Singh has made himself a laughing stock as TV channels, soon after his sudden change of heart, have started playing a series of his colourful comments attacking Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He religiously demonised Rajiv’s widow and lampooned at Mr Manmohan Singh for years. Once he in(famously) told the Press: “Congress mein sirf ek hi mard hay aur woh hain Sonia Gandhi” (Congress has just one person who is man enough and that is Sonia). Once he offered to raise funds to buy the UPA chairperson a car and a house in Rai Bareilly as she declared, while filing nomination papers, that all she had was Rs 20,000 in her account and that she owned no car or a house in India. One fails to imagine how, after a surprise marriage of convenience, he will make an eye contact with the suave and graceful Congress boss of the Italian origin.
HACKNEYED
The hackneyed argument that there are no permanent foes and friends in politics smacks of opportunism. Obviously they are not out of conviction.
The Samajwadi movers and shakers, who in fact represent various significant interests, in the meantime, have come out with a long expensive wish list. How the Congress would deal with the said charter of demands is yet to be seen. This reaction would be important because the beleaguered government depends on the SP support for survival.
The rescuers want change in the portfolio of Finance as Mr Chidambaram is the architect of inflation and spiralling prices, according to the SP.
The second unpleasant face to the socialist flag-bearers is that of Mr Murli Deora, the Petroleum Minister. As he failed to control the oil price, he has to mount the political gallows.
The third face the Samajwadis detest most is that of the RBI Governor, Mr Y.V. Reddy. The fourth person on the SP hit-list is India’s ambassador to the US, Mr Ronnen Sen. Remember the headless chicken story?
What goes without saying is the new-found friends of the Congress are dead against the Women’s Reservation Bill.
A deeper study of their demands reveals their ultimate preferences and loyalties. They stand for the protection of some actors’ economic interests. Some of their tycoon friends need them to circumvent red tape for foreign investments.
EVASIVE
Meanwhile, following the requests of Mr Amar Singh and Mr Gopal Yadav, the PMO has once again clarified the Government position with regard to the civil nuclear deal with the US. It makes bold to say: India is not under any pressure, nor can it be pressurised to follow a course of action that is not dictated by our enlightened self interests. But the replies are evasive. For example, is it not a fact that New Delhi voted against Iran on the nuclear issue? But the official reply is: Ties with Iran were “time-honoured” and civilisational in nature and no outside influence or pressure could force India to deviate from the path.
Referring to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the statement said it “epitomises” the nature and importance of the relationship, something that was strongly reinforced during the visit of President Ahmadinejad to Delhi in April.
The political compulsions of India that would emerge after the withdrawal of support of the Left and its substitution by the Samajwadi Party would be totally opportunistic, devoid of any higher ideals and values. That pro-actors, pro-business magnates, pro-self interests are demanding too high a price for the rescue mission is not our point. Our point is: It would be political perversion, having no traces of fair play and uprightness that any leadership (with the least credibility) is expected to possess. And where is the question of statesmanship?
