Sonia takes N-deal to people

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi took the India-US nuclear deal to the people, explaining the technical and complicated agreement in a language the common man understands, reports Prasad Nichenametla.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday took the India-US nuclear deal to the people, explaining the technical and complicated agreement in a language the common man understands.

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She said the deal was necessary for power to light up our homes — a line that automatically worked against those parties opposed to the deal.

“As the economy grows we need more power, power for our homes, hospitals, schools and for every village. As the power generated from coal and water is not enough we are facing power cuts. We need this access to nuclear technology and fuel from other countries,” Sonia said at a public meeting in Nellore, her first after the Left’s withdrawal of support.

She started her address, seen by many as sounding of the poll bugle, saying that there was a need to explain to the people the current political situation.

“The Left parties have withdrawn their support to the government over an international deal intended to generate more power. You should ask yourselves as why the deal is important.” And then came the simple explanation. And the crowd nodded — they knew what it is was like to suffer power shortage; Andhra is reeling under a power crisis.

And then it was time to take on the Left. “How can we be faulted for striving for our people? There is no question of compromising on our security interests and independence in our foreign policy.”

“Future generations would recognise the value of this deal,” Sonia said. “We don’t need any certificate from any other party on patriotism.”

In what indicated that the Congress was already in poll mode, she mentioned the UPA government’s programmes like NREGA, unorganised sector schemes. She also spoke on how the loan waiver package and subsidised interests on farm loans would rescue farmers from the current crisis in agriculture.