Click to play videoNew Delhi: New Wikileaks cables accessed by the Hindu newspaper reveal that the US saw a pro-America tilt in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Cabinet - that was reshuffled in May 2006.
Not surprisingly, the government was attacked today in Parliament - both by the Left and the Right.
“Government should give an explanation. The American ambassador should also be asked whether whatever has been said is the truth. If it is, it is obnoxious. Government should clarify and also convey their protest,” said BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.
“I appeal to the government and the house, we need a debate of all the Wikileaks documents. We should know how the foreign policy is made. The Wikileaks documents raises many questions,” said Jaswant Singh.
The Opposition has demanded answers from the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government after the latest Wikileaks expose revealed the United States of America celebrated Murli Deora replacing Mani Shankar Aiyar's as the petroleum minister in 2006. The Wikileaks cables claim that India's foreign policy and domestic affairs, including the 2006 Cabinet reshuffle were done keeping in mind American interests.
As first reported by 'The Hindu', leaked Wikileaks cables referred to the Cabinet reshuffle of the UPA in 2006 in which Deora replaced Aiyar as the petroleum minister.
A cable sent by then US Ambassador David C Mulford to Washington said that Deora's appointment signified a "determination to ensure that US/India relations continue to move ahead rapidly."
Mulford in his cable further said that the reshuffle would "likely to be excellent for US goals in India (and Iran)".
However, Aiyar said that he was expecting to be moved out of the Petroleum Ministry in the Cabinet reshuffle
"I was given temporary charge of the ministry, I was told explicitly that this is a temporary charge. I thought that maybe I'll be there for a week or two. As it is I was there for twenty months. So, it is not surprising that in the first opportunity when the reshuffle took place, I was relieved of my charge," said Aiyar while reacting to the Wikileaks cables.
The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday alleged that the pro-American shift by the UPA Government was a "shameful" act.
"The fact that they (USA) believe that they have been sucessful in promoting their interest whether it is on Iran or on oil, I think it's a shame for India," said CPI(M) member Brinda Karat
The Left party raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and said the Wikileaks cable quoted Mulford as saying that there was "undeniable pro-American tilt" in the then Cabinet reshuffle.
The matter was raised during Zero Hour by Rajeeve, who said that Aiyar, seen by the US as "contentious and outspoken Iran pipeline advocate", was replaced by "pro-US" Murli Deora.
He said a chain of US embassy cables reveal the pro-US position of the Indian government on several issues.
Amid shouts of "shame" Rajeeve said America felt the net effect of the Cabinet reshuffle was "likely to be excellent for the US goals in India (and Iran)."
The CPI-M member, supported by his party colleagues and BJP and Shiv Sena, said there was also a reference in the cables to the inclusion of Saifuddin Soz, Anand Sharma, Ashwani Kumar and Kapil Sibal "with strong pro-US credentials".
They revealed that India was not ready to share the details of investigations into 26/11 Mumbai attack with Pakistan initially. But after continuous pressure (from the US), the Home Minister agreed to share the information, he said.
The US quotes about "Kerala Mafia" in PMO also provoked members to shout slogans "shame on the government". They demanded a response from the government but it was not acceded to by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan.
Citing rules, Khan did not allow members to seek response from the government.
He also repeatedly pointed to Karat, observing that she was breaking the rules.
This is not some new scam. Wikileaks has finally caught up with India courtesy The Hindu. Details of 5,100 US Embassy and Consulate cables put up on the Hindu website give crucial insights into how Washington viewed developments in this country and the Opposition is not amused.
But this is only the beginning. With 6 million words to go the best is perhaps yet to come.
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