Nuke deal crisis: A storm in a teacup?

Excerpts from India Tonight on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show »

The Left and the BJP are making a lot of noise over the Indo-US nuke deal, which has put the UPA government on tenterhooks. Now, Indian Ambassador to US, Ronen Sen has raised temperatures all around by making this statement on the Indo-US nuke deal...."It has been approved here (in Washington DC) by the President and there (in New Delhi), it's been approved by the Indian Cabinet. So, why do you all have this running around like headless chicken, looking for a comment here or comment there, and these little storms in a teacup."

Former Ambassador to the US,  Lalit Mansingh feels that with the amount of experience that Ronen Sen has, he would be surprised that he would direct such a statement at MPs.

Sen also went on to say that 60 years after Independence, India has not grown up and lacks confidence and self respect. Words which a lot of people would agree with but which has landed this diplomat in a hot soup.

So, to assuage tempers, he did put out an apology and say that the comments he made was not directed at MPs or any particular group as such.

Former High Commissioner to Pakistan and Australia, G Parthasarthy told CNBC-TV18, "I've known Sen for 38 years and he's extremely tactful. Yes, you can go wrong once or twice. But I think with regard to this statement, he was referring to the general environment in India. We no longer have to run to the US for food and to Russia for military aid. We can pay for it all now. So, this is a confident India and he was talking about the general ambience."

But these remarks were brought up on the floor of the House and Sen's boss, Pranab Mukherjee was asked to clarify to whom they were directed. Mukherjee said that some words were put in Sen's mouth and that the statements were directed toward journalists. But he's also confused the issue by saying that the remarks were taken out of context and that he would ask for clarification from Sen himself. 

Deal or no deal?

But if it is true that the Left is all set to jettison this deal, as has been widely reported and assumed, then Mansingh feels that "not only the government, but the country and the prime minister will also lose face. It will a big loss of credibility in the years to come for India." He adds, "In the long run, we will be damaging our economic prospects and our political aspirations - this is my biggest fear." Though, he says that it's a setback, it can be repaired. But this incessant nitpicking happening in India has not only the US concerned, but even other countries like Russia, France, UK and even Australia who have supported it. Parthsarthy says that if the deal were not to be accepted at this stage, they would understand the political imperatives. But he adds, "One thing we have to bear in mind is that the original idea of ending of the sanctions came from France. They wanted nuclear cooperation with us. Russia wanted nuclear cooperation with us. The maximum beneficiaries of this are going to be the Russians and the French, more than the Americans." But he agrees with Mansingh, that this will ruin India's credibility in the eyes of the world.

CPM Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Mohammed Salim simply feels that Sen put his boss, Pranab Mukherjee, in a tight spot.

But Mansingh does not feel Sen has said anything that was politically inappropriate. He says, "He is a human being and may have his views. But did he say anything that was embarrassing to the government or the political leadership and I find there is nothing there that could be objectionable."

Even Parthasarthy does not feel Sen's comments have sullied the majesty of the Parliament. But Salim says as a diplomat, Sen should have toted lines and quoted them on behalf of the country and not aired his own partisan views because dialogue and debating issues is the right of MPs in Parliament, and this should not be commented on.

Salim adds, that therefore, he should face up to the consequences, which in this case is that they have asked Sen to put in his papers. So, will this honest diplomat fall in the line of duty? Well, the wheels have been set in motion..