A Red Scare In Delhi
In the wake of these events, Karat has recently backed off from brinksmanship over the nuclear deal, hoping to persuade the Congress Party not to intervene in the local conflict. In mid-November, Karat's men even agreed to allow the government to begin negotiating the safeguards agreement with the IAEA—a previous redline.
Such flip-flopping may only further hurt the communists' already low national standing, though they are likely to retain enough seats in the next election to stay politically relevant. Of course, Karat can still torpedo the deal once the safeguards agreement is finalized. If he does, however, the impact could be devastating. India will have blown its best shot ever at abandoning the mistakes of the past and setting itself on a brave new path forward. And the real losers, as always, will be India's poor, those still waiting for the economic miracle to reach them. The communists, in a bitter irony, will have betrayed the same unfortunates they are supposedly dedicated to helping.
© 2007
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Member Comments
Posted By: carolrhill @ 03/31/2008 10:22:47 AM
Comment: India is far behind and there are so many poor people. If they need to do anything they need to help the poor people in their nation NOW before it is too late.
Posted By: IndAm @ 12/15/2007 10:47:16 PM
Comment: Mr Karat and his comrades want to ascertain that they are part of power center. They put India's progress and security at peril, unknowingly. We need nuclear technology for energy and security. Strong nations, both economic or military, commands respect and power. India should become strong first. No one can stop India, if it wants to be independent. No contract can bind India.
We need better policies and the government should move away from controls. Mr Karat and his comrades want to put the clock back. Manmohan may not be a better politicians; he may be listening to his former masters from WB and IMF. Yet some of his and Chidambaram's policies have done miracles for India, since early 1990s. Mr Karat and his comrades must realize this fact. They must try tune towards Indian needs. They must listen to fellow conrades like Buddadeb, instead of working through their tinted glasses and idiological hat.
Posted By: IndAm @ 12/15/2007 10:37:44 PM
Comment: hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh