We'll convince our Muslim voters of N-deal: Amar

THE LEFT(OVER): Relations with Left not damaged because of N-deal, but am sorry if Karat is hurt, says Amar Singh.

          

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Samajwadi Party’s decision to liaise with Congress, formerly a bitter foe, to push the Indo-US nuclear deal through is being seen as the biggest political turnaround of recent times. While some call it politics of opportunism, others say it’s a betrayal. But SP General Secretary Amar Singh seems unrepentant and all forgiving. He tells Karan Thapar on Devil’s Advocate that the party is confident not only of its stand but also of convincing its large Muslim electorate that the nuclear deal is good for the country.

Karan Thapar: Let’s begin with the political reaction to the manner in which the Samajwadi Party and Congress are coming together. Your former allies, the Left, feel you’ve let them down, they feel you’ve taken a complete U-turn and, in private, they say you betrayed them. How will you respond to that?

Amar Singh: I will never ever say anything critical against them. I have not yet forgotten when Soniaji and top Congress leaders wanted to dismiss the UP government, and the veto of Prakash Karat saved it. But I will also remember one more incident – the United Front Government led by I K Gujarat and the BJP government led by Kalyan Singh was dismissed by Cabinet. When the Cabinet decision was sent back for reconsideration, Congress leaders and comrades like Jyoti Basu and veterans like Sitaram Yechury said they were against the promulgation of Article 356 and will support the non-dismissal of the BJP government. Mr Advani profusely thanked Leftists for their stand.

So that explains the conduct of CPI-M in saving our government. Let me tell you that at the instance of comrade (Harkishan Singh) Surjeet, I went to Soniaji’s house. Though, I don’t want to rake up the past, was it not the responsibility of my progressive Communist friends to force Congress to take the SP in the UPA when we were left alone and isolated?

Karan Thapar: Did you feel let down by the Left when they did this?

Amar Singh: Whatever I had felt, I had said then. I don’t want to beat about the bush again and again (sic) because I have had this experience. I don’t know when next will I need them or when will they need me. So I don’t want t o say anything against them, publicly.

Karan Thapar: But this is the first time that you have commented on the fact that the Left who took you to Sonia Gandhi’s house in 2004, then did nothing to support you when Sonia Gandhi ignored you, cold-shouldered you – and as you said – she made you feel unwanted. Her party men even compared you to dogs and beggars. But the Left did nothing to support you – neither personally nor politically. This is the first time, you have commented about it.

Amar Singh: No. Do not put words in my mouth. This is not the first time. Mulayam Singh Yadav – my president and leader – had publicly commented and he asked Surjeet why he was quiet and not commenting.

Karan Thapar: What did Surjeet say?

Amar Singh: He said, ‘I am sorry, I should have commented. He said Amar Singh was not a gatecrasher and met (Sonia) due to my initiative.’

Karan Thapar: Surjeet said this in private to Mulayam Singh but did not make any comment in your defense publicly.

Amar Singh: I don’t want to say anything about him now that he is not in the political scene.

Karan Thapar: Does this absence of support for you and your party in 2004 in some way justify the fact that today, you are not with the Left even though the Left protected and defended your government two years ago? Ironically, today you are with the very party that was trying to dismiss your government.