Bull's Eye

Smart managers use the carrot-and-stick policy. The Left uses the Karat-and-stick policy. This policy recognises no reward. It only gives punishment. Each time the government acted, Karat angrily waved his stick in the air. Karat took care the stick never hurt the government. It was meant only to impress Left supporters. Karat thought they would believe he was a tough guy keeping filthy pro-US ministers in line.

When the Indo-US nuclear deal first came up, Karat waved his stick and said: "The government is selling the nation to America. Prove it is not!"

"Okay," said the PM. He gave a list of assurances to Parliament. In letter, if not in spirit, the draft agreement fulfilled the assurances. So Karat waved his stick and said: "What about the Hyde Act? The US President must review the deal each year and report to his Congress!""That’s his problem," the government replied. "The Hyde Act is not mentioned in our deal."

"What about sovereignty? How can the US president review our deal?" "What about US sovereignty? How can we review its President’s role with his Congress?"

Karat waved his stick more violently. "It’s a sellout! We reject the 123 Agreement!"

The then-shining-now-whining BJP jumped in. "Good! Forget 123! Think of 184. It’s the parliamentary rule that compels a vote after the debate!" "Scram!" said Karat. "The Left can’t vote with the bjp! Just because we are on the same side doesn’t mean we are together! We will punish the government in our own way!"

"You will withdraw support and make the government fall?" the BJP eagerly asked. "And allow you to take over? Never!"

"Then how will you punish it?" "We will change the Constitution! We’ll make all treaties subject to parliamentary approval. We will protest against joint Indo-US naval exercises...."

The Left’s supporters are sometimes thought crazy. But nobody thinks they’re stupid. Karat’s antics used to make them laugh. Now they make them cry. At present, the Left has around 60 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Let’s see how many remain after the next election.

(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)