PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS AMIDST CHAOS: US LAWMAKERS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002230

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR ENRG IN IR
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS AMIDST CHAOS: US LAWMAKERS'
LETTER STOKES THE IRE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

REF: A. NEW DELHI 2143

B. NEW DELHI 2139

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Geoffrey Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: May 7 marked another day of shouting and
chaos in both houses of the Indian Parliament. Congress went
after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the fake encounter
killings of Muslims in Gujarat, demanding the resignation of
Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Narendra Modi for his alleged
involvement (ref B). The BJP attacked Congress for its
complacent response to Lashkar-e-Taiba elements at a Srinagar
rally and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) for
its involvement in the death of farmers in Nandigram. The
Left and BJP all ganged up on Congress and its UPA
government, demanding a tough response to the "insulting"
letter from seven U.S. Members of Congress warning India
against ties with Iran. Minister of Petroleum Murli Deora
told the Rajya Sabha (upper house) in unconditional terms,
that India will not be "cowed down" by anyone. Foreign
Minister Pranab Mukerjee was expected to address the Lok
Sabha (lower house) on May 9 and Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Menon was to be by his side, but the address may slip
to May 10. Opposition and Left Parties are attacking the UPA
government for being too close to the U.S. and compromising
India's sovereignty. End Summary

Parliament Adjourns Amidst Chaos
--------------


2. (C) Both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha adjourned on
May 7 following turmoil over domestic issues and a letter
from seven U.S. Members of Congress warning that India's
relationship with Iran could jeopardize further nuclear
cooperation. The Samajwadi Party and Congress demanded a
discussion on the murder of Muslims in staged police
encounters in Gujarat and insisted on the arrest and
resignation of current BJP CM Narendra Modi. The BJP
countered with accusations of CPI(M)'s role in the death of
farmers in Nandigram and Congress' tolerance of
Lashkar-e-Taiba presence and anti-India slogans shouted at
separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani's rally in Srinagar. In an
unlikely (and temporary) alliance, CPI(M) Brinda Karat and
BJP Sushma Swaraj joined powers to demand the Prime Minister
address Parliament on the civil nuclear deal and the
"insulting" letter from U.S. lawmakers. While the Left
ranted about the letter from the U.S., Congress members
trooped into the well condemning the fake police encounter
killing and BJP members began shouting slogans in Hindi
translating to, "Save Kashmir! Save the Country!" Business
for the day halted, as the Rajya Sabha was forced to adjourn.
A similar scene developed in the Lok Sabha, causing the
lower house to adjourn as well.

Petroleum Minister Deora: "India will not be cowed down by
anyone"
--------------


3. (C) On May 8, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora issued strong
statements to the Rajya Sabha about India's relationship with
the U.S. and responded to CPI(M) Brinda Karat's queries on
the letter from U.S. Members of Congress. He stated that
"India will not be cowed down by anyone including the United
States" on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline."
Deora affirmed that during Energy Secretary Sam Bodman's
visit, the GOI "explained to him (Bodman) that it is not
their (American) business. We will do whatever is good for
us." On the nuclear deal, he unconditionally declared the no
one "could pressurize the country on the issue" and that
there was no question of the "U.S. or any other country
interfering in India's internal affairs."

Pranab to Address Parliament
--------------


5. (C) May 9, Parliament expected Minister of External
Affairs Pranab Mukherjee to address the Lok Sabha on the
lawmakers' letter, concerns of India's sovereignty and the
bilateral relationship with the U.S., including the civil
nuclear deal. Press reports suggested Mukherjee's statement

NEW DELHI 00002230 002 OF 002


would be "unambiguous," reiterating that India opposes Iran's
nuclear weapons ambitions but will make no assurances to
restrict its ties with Iran. If Mukherjee is given the
opportunity to speak -- though the opposition and the Left
have demanded a statement from the government, Mukherjee
could get shouted off the dais, given the current tenor in
Parliament -- the government is preparing to shrug off
accusations of succumbing to America and pressure by U.S
lawmakers.


6. (C) Comment: As of COB on May 9, Mukherjee had not
addressed the Parliament. Regardless of when he makes his
address, the letter from U.S. lawmakers appears to have
re-shaped proceedings, and the UPA has been cornered into
defending the blossoming U.S./India relationship while
protecting itself from attacks over India's foreign policy
independence. All this is taking place with Uttar Pradesh
elections as a backdrop, and with disappointing results
expected for Congress. Post considers this current attack on
the U.S./India relationship as short-lived, and the
hysterical response to the letter as an opportunity seized on
by UPA Opposition elements to score political points.
Mukherjee has played this role before, drawing a balance in
Parliament between the U.S./India relationship and India's
proudly independent foreign policy. Assuming he is allowed
to speak, we can expect him to assert India's sovereignty,
but also to advocate for the overall U.S./India bilateral
relationship. End Comment.
PYATT