Unbelievable horse trading is going on in the corridors of power in Delhi on an issue – the nuclear deal – which according to both sides of the divide is a matter of national interest. It must not be lost sight of that the agreement with the IAEA is only the first step to formalizing the agreement with the USA and that is the real intent of what is going on today. Debate today is lost in the technicalities of the agreement with the IAEA or the contradictions between the Hyde Act and the 123 Agreement. Often we are stuck in the details of the preamble of the agreement with the IAEA and its various clauses. Some have gone to the extent of saying that those who do not know how international treaties are negotiated have no right to criticize them. This would rule out the entire nation barring a hand few and there can then be no debate.
Media reports suggest that there is a no holds barred fight to win the vote in the Parliament. There are those who are being offered upwards of Rs. 20 crores and there are those who are perhaps demanding upwards of this amount. Others are demanding lucrative Ministership or Chief Ministership or setting up of smaller states where they can be the undisputed leaders (where they can make much more this amount). The personal interests of those in Parliament who are supposed to be the upholder of the national interest are being indulged in and the nation be damned.
Arguments are being heard that the Prime Minster belongs to a particular community so the MPs from that community should vote for him. Old legal cases are being reopened against the opponents. It is being suggested that the cases of supporters will be put on the back burner. Imprisoned MPs are being let out on bail. The corporate sector is involved in lobbying and perhaps it has loosened its purse strings to help gather votes and support from parties. Wheeler dealers are having a field day. What the cash for questions case had shown was that some members of parliament were willing to bend for the sake of small sums of money. That was small change compared to the sums being mentioned today. The JMM bribery case pales into insignificance before the scale of operations in the nation.
