BackAt the cost of credibility
At the cost of credibility
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The UPA government’s handling of the last couple of days’ events regarding the IAEA agreement shows that either it has a very shoddy communication strategy or simply didn’t care to take the nation into full confidence while moving ahead with a matter of huge national importance. Either way, it lost credibility.
First, Pranab Mukherjee stated his government won’t go to IAEA till it clears the trust vote in Parliament. It did. After moving an “absolutely necessary step forward"—as IAEA spokesperson Melissa Fleming was quoted on Thursday—Veerappa Moily argued it was only a step to give them time to consider the text. It was a step, nonetheless, by a government that may well not survive the coming weeks. It can’t save face by differentiating nuances of “consideration" and “ratification" as Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari sought to.
Second, the government claimed that IAEA terms barred it from sharing the text with third parties. But The Hindu on Thursday quoted Fleming saying it was under no such restraint. Finally, what happened to the Congress’ claim that unveiling it meant inviting the risk of nuclear terrorism?
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