Trusting Congress bosses was a mistake: Karat

For the first time since the controversy involving Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee erupted, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has spoken out. He felt it was silly to look upon the Speaker as partyless. In an exclusive interview, he told TOI , "This talk of a Speaker without a party and politics is hypocritical."

While stating that Chatterjee himself would take a decision on whether or not to step down, Karat said, "By holding the post of the Speaker, a person does not cease to have political affiliations."

Karat touched on a number of crucial political issues in the interview. He revealed that the first indication of the UPA going ahead with the nuclear deal came in June. He didn't regret letting the government go to the IAEA at that stage, but wondered aloud "if it was a mistake to believe in the word given by the Congress leadership, which included the PM".

He indicated that it would be tough for the Left to work with the Congress again. Referring to the moves to get jailed MPs to vote for the government, he referred to the JMM bribery case and said, "Let's hope history does not repeat itself."

Excerpts from an exclusive interview

When did you get the first indication that government would go ahead and finalise IAEA safeguards agreement?

In June. The Congress leadership, in the run-up to the UPA-Left committee meeting, informed us that they were determined to go ahead to the IAEA.

Do you think letting government go to IAEA was a mistake?

We should ask ourselves whether it was a mistake to believe in the word given by the Congress leadership which included the PM. On November 10, 2007, there had been a meeting in the PM's house where an understanding was arrived at.

Why do you think there was a sudden rush to clinch the deal? Is it just that time was running out or something else?

I think time was running out for the US (Bush administration) to get the deal through the various stages, particularly in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The PM definitely is the main mover behind the deal. As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned, I am told, he is in favour of the strategic alliance with US.

Will Left do business with Congress after the next general election?

The situation after the next election will be different. We will have to factor in the position of the parties regarding the nuclear deal and the strategic alliance with the US, apart from the consideration of having a secular government.

What will be Left's attitude to UPA allies in the future?

We will have to see. We will have to consider what their relations will be with the Congress at the time of the elections.

Why did SP to move away from Left? This is the third time SP has moved away from Left at a crucial juncture?

We had got some indications from the SP leadership. They were frank enough to discuss the developing situation vis-a-vis the Congress with us. I think the political situation in UP was uppermost in their mind.