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
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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
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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

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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