HELPFUL CONGRESS STATEMENT ON U.S. TIES DEEPENS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002131 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KISL IN SUBJECT: HELPFUL CONGRESS STATEMENT ON U.S. TIES DEEPENS RIFT WITH LEFT Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, Reason 1.5 (B,D) Sharp Jabs at the Left and the Samajwadi Party -------------- - ¶1. (U) A signed editorial by Sonia Gandhi in the March edition of the Congress party journal "Sandesh" praised the civil nuclear agreement as "historic" and congratulated Prime Minister Singh for "ensuring the success of President Bush's visit despite opposition from key allies (read the Left Front)." Calling it "unforgivable" and "something that must be opposed," the editorial accused "certain Parties like the Samajwadi Party" of "trying to communalize our foreign policy," and "exploit" the "justified Muslim anger against the blasphemous (sic) cartoons published in a Danish newspaper and confuse them with the Bush visit to India." Congress accused the SP of trying to deflect attention away from its problems in UP by "trying to be the champion of Muslims," and trying to use "poll gimmicks" to "woo the minority vote." Deriding "certain parties that did not support India's own indigenous nuclear program" for championing "a nuclear Iran," Congress affirmed that "it is an insult to the Indian minority community to think that they have the interests of another country more than that of India." ¶2. (U) While the SP bore the brunt of the Congress attack, its Left allies were also not spared. Sonia's editorial accused the Left of "ideological limitations that are well-known" consisting of a "one point program to stop economic reform and oppose the United States." Congress also rapped the Communists for constantly harping "on how the indo-US deal is designed solely to contain China," and accused them of being "historically wrong always," as when they refused to support Indian independence in 1947. The Attacks Hit Home -------------- ¶3. (U) CPI(M) politburo member and MP Sitaram Yechury reacted angrily to the Congress attack, stating that "If anyone is communalizing the issue it is George Bush. By invoking God for attacking other countries, Bush is saying his God is better." At the same time, the Communists were clearly uncomfortable with being linked with Muslim extremists, especially after four persons were killed in a March 3 demonstration in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) capital of Lucknow. Yechury reminded reporters that the Left refused to participate in a March 1 anti-Bush rally sponsored by the Jamaat-e-Islami in Delhi. Comment - Fed Up With Its Supposed Allies -------------- ¶4. (C) The political side of the Congress Party has been largely silent about the Left/SP/Muslim protests against the Bush visit and their harsh criticism of PM Manmohan Singh's pro-US foreign policy. Sonia's editorial suggests that Congress is now confident enough of its job security and foreign policy stance to take on the critics (which, ironically, included its erstwhile allies rather than the opposition BJP). Congress expected the Left to mount its own demonstrations against the Bush visit, but was surprised when the SP and the Left worked together to mobilize large Muslim protests. Congress and the SP are locked in a vicious struggle over control of UP, and Congress finds the Left's patronizing attitude toward the SP and its many excesses a NEW DELHI 00002131 002 OF 002 growing irritant. Communist involvement in SP-sponsored Muslim demonstrations further deepened the growing Congress/Left rift, since Congress has historically counted on Muslim vote bank support. The Communists felt caught in a dilemma. Repelled by Islamic extremism, they would have ordinarily kept the maulvis at arm's length. However, the Left views the SP as a key component in a future "third front" government they hope to form, and felt it had no choice but to go along with Mulayam's opportunistic demonstrations. Congress anger has been bubbling beneath the surface since the conclusion of President Bush's visit. By making its feelings public, the Congress leadership has demonstrated that its patience with the SP ran out long ago, and the same frustration is now creeping into Congress/Left relations. By sharpening and laying out in public its clear foreign policy disagreement with its ostensible Left allies, Congress is showing its dedication to US-India ties, no matter what. This is good for us. ¶5. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD