Sonia's scathing speech seals Left-UPA divorce

COMBAT CALL: Sonia made clear that there would be no going back on the Indo-US nuclear agreement.

    

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Cong backtracks, says Sonia didn't mean to target Left

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Abhishek Patni

MAULANA MULAYAM AND PERILS OF NUCLEAR DEAL

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“Today power supply is an important issue. We' are trying to solve the problem through the nuclear deal. Every time there is a progress there are objections raised. The people opposed to the deal are not only against the Congress but also against the development of the country. This time we will protest and give them a befitting reply.”

It sounded like an election speech and gave out the clearest signal yet of approaching mid-term elections. In what could perhaps be best defined as Congress’ sharpest attack yet on Left allies, party president Sonia Gandhi made clear that there would be no going back on the Indo-US nuclear agreement.

Addressing a public meeting at Jhajjar in Haryana, Sonia described those opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal as enemies of development, signaling that the ruling UPA-Left alliance at the Centre is about to end.

Predictably, the Left wasn’t to be cowed down. They retorted and made clear they weren’t to be taken for granted. At least not this time.

While CPI leader A B Bardhan said the Congress was forcing an election of the country, Abani Roy went to the extent of saying Left had no choice but to withdraw support.

“It means that the Congress isn’t serious about the discussions that are taking place between the committee between the UPA and the Left. They want to break it and impose elections. They will be taught a lesson by the people for breaking this government, which they are doing just in order to be friendly to Americans,” Bardhan said.

But Sonia’s speech showed no signs of repentance. So with the slugfest reaching its final stages, has the Congress decided this is the time for elections? Why has Sonia chosen to take on the Left now?

CNN-IBN National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar and CPI leader D Raja discussed and debated the issue on Sunday Special with Bhupendra Chaubey.