Days are numbered for the Indian coalition Government led by the Congress ( I ) as the scheduled meeting of the International Atomic Energy Commission ( IAEA) draws nearer. With the Government deciding in favor of sending its representative to the IAEA meeting taking place in Vienna from September 10 to 14, the Communist allies are very much determined to withdraw support to the Government.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government ruling India since the 2004 May parliamentary elections has been facing litmus test ever since its key allies – Communist party of India ( CPI ) and Communist Party of India – Marxists ( CPM) have recently warned the Congress ( I ) led Government not to go ahead with the operational part of the civil nuclear agreement entered into with the Bush Administration.
The CPI and CPM are some of the major allies of the ruling coalition that were supporting the Government from outside. These two parties delivered warnings to the Man Mohan Singh Government several times in the past but they were never serious in their warnings as they are now.
They have been vehemently arguing that the civil nuclear agreement entered into the US Government would rob India of its sovereignty in conducing further nuclear tests. Notwithstanding the strong denial of the allegation by the Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh Government, the “Reds’ were adamant in their stand that India would lose the freedom of conducting nuclear tests.
Last week, the Prime Minister dared the Communists to withdraw the support to the coalition Government on the issue of the nuclear agreement irking the leftist allies. Taking seriously the PM’s challenge and surprising everyone in the country, the Communists have issued an ultimatum to the Government to desist from moves of sending an envoy to the Vienna Meet to discus the modalities to put the agreement in to operation. Notwithstanding the threat of the Communists to withdraw support in case of noncompliance of their demand, and being fully conscious of the consequences, the Government is going ahead to ensure India’s participation in the IAEA meet at its own peril.