Saturday, June 21, 2008
Energy prices, Nuclear energy, the Left and the Right
The drama over fuel prices is not getting linked to the nuclear energy as well. Further mix it with Left's penchant, or let as say "historical duty" to oppose anything American makes this a completely confusing brew for most readers and viewers.
The Left wants energy prices to be reduced by reduction in taxes. It also wants to tax "windfall profits" of private oil companies. They have questioned the authenticity of figures of oil companies' losses.
The Left's own camouflage is exposed. In case of taxes, the highest taxes are the sales tax. what is action taken by the Left state governments on that? Can they not be explicit about the figures involved, about possible impact on state finances if the sales tax is drastically reduced? Can the left also not provide analysis of how much "windfall tax" can be imposed as the private oil companies publish their figures quarterly? But is the Left really interested in providing figures or facts? Or is it merely using this as a means of propaganda?
On nuclear energy, the left does not want the deal simply because it was an initiative between India and US. The deal itself would allow India to get nuclear technology and fuel from any of the NSG countries and does not provide any preference to US. But that is not the Left's concern. Their true concern appears to be the increased goodwill which US may get in India due to such a deal and possible positive effect on Indo-US relations. The Left sees its own backers as those pathologically opposed to US. Of course this tribe is diminishing rapidly now and so their actual gain a future election be doubtful.
A more sinister agenda which many accuse the Left is that of following China's interest, without China itself having to do it. The past history of Left's foreign policy statements, unfortunately, squarely supports this inference. They did not support India during the war with China in 1962 and have not come out categorically on issues like India China border row, Sikkim etc. China itself has never claimed that it has any strategic relationship with Left, but if it really serious, it should publicly dissociate itself from the Left.
Will the PM sum up courage to stick to his stand? And will Congress sum up courage to back up its own Government against the Left? While it is difficult to say, the past suggests that Congress will find some ways to climb down in a face saving manner. The leadership structure in Congress, heavily dependent on the family, makes it difficult for rest of the leadership to take clear and bold stand on any issue, lest others go to Madam and get the stand reversed. Manmohan Singh, with all his reputation for integrity, has not publicly displayed boldness or courage to citizens of this country.
The BJP stand too is puzzling to say the least. They are talking with two tongues. While Mr. Advani occasionally shows courage by making statements which seem to come from his mind and heart, the party soon distances itself by taking routine opposing statements.
The next few days could be exciting and on the other hand, turn out to be just another damp squib, going by past spats between the Left and the Congress. Does the Congress not realize that every time they cow down to the CPM, a few more of the main stream voters, who are tired of the Left, swing to the BJP?
The Left wants energy prices to be reduced by reduction in taxes. It also wants to tax "windfall profits" of private oil companies. They have questioned the authenticity of figures of oil companies' losses.
The Left's own camouflage is exposed. In case of taxes, the highest taxes are the sales tax. what is action taken by the Left state governments on that? Can they not be explicit about the figures involved, about possible impact on state finances if the sales tax is drastically reduced? Can the left also not provide analysis of how much "windfall tax" can be imposed as the private oil companies publish their figures quarterly? But is the Left really interested in providing figures or facts? Or is it merely using this as a means of propaganda?
On nuclear energy, the left does not want the deal simply because it was an initiative between India and US. The deal itself would allow India to get nuclear technology and fuel from any of the NSG countries and does not provide any preference to US. But that is not the Left's concern. Their true concern appears to be the increased goodwill which US may get in India due to such a deal and possible positive effect on Indo-US relations. The Left sees its own backers as those pathologically opposed to US. Of course this tribe is diminishing rapidly now and so their actual gain a future election be doubtful.
A more sinister agenda which many accuse the Left is that of following China's interest, without China itself having to do it. The past history of Left's foreign policy statements, unfortunately, squarely supports this inference. They did not support India during the war with China in 1962 and have not come out categorically on issues like India China border row, Sikkim etc. China itself has never claimed that it has any strategic relationship with Left, but if it really serious, it should publicly dissociate itself from the Left.
Will the PM sum up courage to stick to his stand? And will Congress sum up courage to back up its own Government against the Left? While it is difficult to say, the past suggests that Congress will find some ways to climb down in a face saving manner. The leadership structure in Congress, heavily dependent on the family, makes it difficult for rest of the leadership to take clear and bold stand on any issue, lest others go to Madam and get the stand reversed. Manmohan Singh, with all his reputation for integrity, has not publicly displayed boldness or courage to citizens of this country.
The BJP stand too is puzzling to say the least. They are talking with two tongues. While Mr. Advani occasionally shows courage by making statements which seem to come from his mind and heart, the party soon distances itself by taking routine opposing statements.
The next few days could be exciting and on the other hand, turn out to be just another damp squib, going by past spats between the Left and the Congress. Does the Congress not realize that every time they cow down to the CPM, a few more of the main stream voters, who are tired of the Left, swing to the BJP?
# posted by paresh @ 9:00 PM 
