HVK Archives: Natwar to open Cong innings on nuke
Natwar to open Cong innings on nuke - The Economic Times
Political Bureau
()
May 23, 1998
Title: Natwar to open Cong innings on nuke
Author: Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 23, 1998
In what appears to be a fresh snub at the leader of the
Opposition, Sharad Pawar, the Congress leadership has decided to
field party MP from Rajasthan and former external affairs
minister K Natwar Singh as opening speaker in the debate on the
nuclear issue in Parliament next week.
Conventionally, it is the leader of Opposition who takes the
floor in the Lok Sabha after the Prime Minister opens the debate.
However, since Mr Pawar's stand on the nuclear tests was
perceived to have been at variance with that adopted by the
party, it might have possibly led to Ms Gandhi opt for Mr Singh
to set the party line hi Parliament on the issue. While Mr Pawar
has maintained that the country should be one on the issue, the
party sought to draw a distinction between the achievements of
the scientists which it applauded and the role of the BJP-led
government.
The Congress line was made even more clearer yesterday when Ms
Gandhi, speaking at a public function, cautioned that there was a
need for self restraint rather than a display of power. The
party's criticism has only sharpened further in the post-nuclear
explosion phase with indications that the stand would persist
during the debate in Parliament.
According to party circles, Ms Gandhi has been holding
consultations on the issue with senior leaders but would spell
out the party strategy, only after the outcome of the meeting
which Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has promised on May 24
to the Congress for a "full briefing" on the nuclear tests. A
meeting of the Congress Party in Parliament, hence, has been
called on May 26, a day before the commencement of the Budget
session.
Party circles, however, insisted that the reason for Mr Pawar not
being asked to open the debate on behalf of the party was because
of his limited abilities as a speaker. Admittedly, Mr Pawar's
lackadaisical and impassive manner of delivery has cost the
Congress heavily in terms of performance in Parliament, more so
when he has had to speak immediately after Mr Vajpayee,
considered one of the finest orators.
Despite this argument - since Mr Pawar will be speaking later
during the debate - his detractors in the party have begun
hinting at Mr Pawar's perceived isolation within the party. It
was pointed out that Mr Pawar, barring one meeting, failed to
attend most of the sittings of the task force led by PA Sangma.
Mr Pawar was also not present in the capital to represent the
Congress at the all-party meeting on electoral reforms called by
Union home minister L K Advani today. The meeting was attended by
the leader in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh and Mr Rajesh
Pilot.
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