Devil's Advocate: 123 Deal sellout to US, says Yechury

HARD TALK: CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury speaking exclusively to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate.

      

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Are the Left parties truly opposed to the 123 Agreement or is it just a posture? Karan Thapar quizzes CPI-M politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury on the Left’s problems with the nuclear deal in an exclusive interview on the Devil’s Advocate.

Karan Thapar: The Left parties have asked the Prime Minister not to operationalise the 123 Agreement. The Prime Minister in response has said: “We cannot go back on the deal.” And he has told you to do whatever you want, including withdrawing support if you should so choose. So what will you do?

Sitaram Yechury : The question is not about us supporting or not supporting. The issue is the operationalising of the nuclear deal. We have told the Prime Minister what our concerns are and why we think that the deal is not in India’s interest, so it should not be operationalised.

Karan Thapar : If operationalising the deal is your key concern rather than withdrawing support, then I shall put it you that the deal is in fact not going to be operationalised until the US Congress ratifies it and until India and America sign on the dotted line. And that being the case, if you withdraw support, then you can stop the operationalisation. Are you prepared to do that or not?

Sitaram Yechury : According to the Indian Constitution, once an international agreement has been arrived upon, there is no need for Parliament’s ratification.

Karan Thapar : But it has not been arrived upon. It will only be arrived upon when they sign it and only if the US Congress ratifies it. So if you don’t want it to be arrived upon, then you have the power to stop it? Will you withdraw support or not?

Sitaram Yechury : No. Withdrawing support will not guarantee the stopping of it, because any future government and the alternative that we have had with the BJP, they are the ones who started the entire strategic alliance or partnership with the US.

Karan Thapar : A withdrawal of support today would bring the government down and it would not be in a position to sign the deal, therefore, not operationalise it. Is it not?

Sitaram Yechury : Whichever government comes to office in the country, we would want a situation where the terms of any treaty to be different from what they are now.

Karan Thapar : But you cannot get every party in Parliament to give you a blanket assurance that they will never accept a deal with America today or in the future. Do not ask for that, it is impossible.

Sitaram Yechury : Firstly, it is not a question about any deal with America. We are talking about a specific deal that is the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Deal. Secondly, we are talking about this deal having certain parameters and certain provisions, which are not as per our conditions.

Karan Thapar : If you don’t want the deal operationalised, then it won’t be till the two countries sign on the dotted line and it won’t happen till the US Congress ratifies it so. If you withdraw support and bring down the government, it won’t be operationalised. Are you serious or is this rhetorical blasting?

Sitaram Yechury : If any government that comes into office in India should ratify a deal that is different in terms than what it is now ...

Karan Thapar : So what are you looking for is a blank assurance that the deal should not be operational ever?

Sitaram Yechury : It is not a question of this government ratifying a deal. Any government that comes into office should be able to ratify a deal that will be in the interest of our country, which we think is not now.