Oppn attacks govt over 'pro-US' Cabinet reshuffle

Publication of Wikileaks reports, which suggest that a "United States tilt" was visible in the Cabinet reshuffle of 2006, on Tuesday prompted the Opposition in Rajya Sabha to allege that the pro-American shift by the United Progressive Alliance government was a "shameful" act.

Communist Party of India - Marxist members in the Rajya Sabha raised the issue and said the Wikileaks cable quoted US Ambassador in India David C Mulford as saying that there was an "undeniable pro-American tilt" in the then Cabinet reshuffle.

The CPI-M members, led by P Rajeeve and Brinda Karat, said Mulford had described the decision to change the petroleum minister as a "determination to ensure that US-India relations continue to move ahead rapidly."

The matter was raised during Zero Hour by Rajeeve, who said then petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, seen by the US as "contentious and outspoken Iran pipeline advocate", was replaced by "pro-US" Murli Deora.

He said a chain of US embassy cables reveal the pro-US position of the Indian government on several issues. Amid shouts of "shame, shame", Rajeeve said America felt the net effect of the Cabinet reshuffle was "likely to be excellent for the US goals in India (and Iran)."

The CPI-M member, supported by his party colleagues and members of Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, said there was also a reference in the cables to the inclusion of Saifuddin Soz, Anand Sharma, Ashwani Kumar and Kapil Sibal "with strong pro-US credentials".

They revealed that India was not ready to share the details of investigations into the 26/11 Mumbai attack with Pakistan initially. But after continuous pressure (from the US), Home Minister P Chidambaram agreed to share the information, he said.

The US quotes about "Kerala Mafia" in the Prime Minister's Office also provoked members to shout slogans "shame on the government". They demanded a response from the government, but it was not accepted by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan.

Citing rules, Khan did not allow the members to seek a response from the government.

"Today members are breaking all rules. This is not the way," Khan said, adding the Chair cannot ask the government to respond to Zero Hour mentions. He also repeatedly pointed to Karat, observing that she was breaking the rules.