Date:08/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/08/stories/2008070854600800.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Newfound ties

The Samajwadi Party’s claim that is has decided to support the UPA government because it wants to keep the communal forces at bay is unconvincing and baseless. The government’s stability has been endangered not by any instances of communalism but by the threat of withdrawal of support by the Left parties on the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal.

The actual reasons which have prompted Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh to befriend the Congress are entirely different. Both leaders are more concerned with the politics of Uttar Pradesh. Their newfound love will be on test when the SP starts demanding its pound of flesh.

Tarsem Singh,

New Delhi

* * *

The SP’s abject political opportunism has been exposed by its decision to favour the nuclear deal. It opposed the deal tooth and nail both in and outside Parliament. Its sudden change of heart is surprising. It is also shameful for the UPA government to hobnob with its old rivals to cling to power by any means when the aam aadmi is grappling with price rise. The recent developments once again prove that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.

Sona George,

Kottayam

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Mulayam Singh may be as opportunistic as any other politician. But by his ‘out of the box’ thinking, he has struck a blow for his party. His move will elevate the SP to the national level, which will henceforth cease to be one of the many regional political entities.

V. Siva Anantha Krishnan,

Nanguneri

* * *

If the Congress has come to an understanding with the SP to safeguard the nuclear deal in the national interest, I do not think it is an opportunistic move.

N. Nagarajan,

Secunderabad

* * *

The Left parties are right in threatening to withdraw support to the UPA government that has decided to pursue a line which is not acceptable to them. The Congress is also right in seeking the support of the SP for the survival of its government. Nor is there anything wrong in the SP’s perception that communalism is more harmful to the nation than everything else. I do not understand where opportunism comes into play in all this. The only loser is the BJP, which was looking forward to fish in troubled waters.

Nirmala Asokan,

Cuddalore

* * *

Barely a year ago, Mulayam Singh and his party were unacceptable to the Congress. It is ridiculous that suddenly the enemies have come to an understanding on a deal that can affect India’s sovereignty. The Left parties should have withdrawn support to the government when the inflation rate touched double digit or when the price of fuel was hiked. They have actually paved the way for Manmohan Singh to go ahead with the nuclear deal.

R. Akhil Ratheesh,

Chennai

* * *

Had the Left parties taken the decision of withdrawing support to the UPA government 15 months ago, the country would not have been witness to the scene of the Congress embracing the SP to remain in power till the next election. But although the Congress has got a chance to rule for eight months more, its chances of returning to power in the next election are remote as the people are piqued at the latest political developments.

Nellai Thirumalairajan,

Chennai

* * *

The standoff between the Left and the Congress-led UPA has pushed the country towards one more crisis, adding to the woes faced by the masses over price rise and fuel shortage. The nuclear deal is dangerous more for political reasons than technical and the Congress should understand this.

N. Divakar,

Mysore

* * *

It has become a norm than an exception for Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies to function in a delicate balance of opposing forces. Often, one requires the support of adversaries to remain in power. The situation is bound to become worse in the coming years with parties breaking into splinter groups. We should have a two-party system or create a new system that can ensure that governments do not fall at the drop of a hat.

V.S. Venkatavaradan,

Salem