'The UPA will survive the crisis'

rediff.com correspondents spoke to Indians around the country to find out what they think.

What India Thinks, Part I: 'No elections please'

Kaleem Rayen, vendor of fruits, Patna

The Left Front's threat to the government is not new. It is nothing more than their compulsion of politics. In the last three years Left Front leaders have threatened the government time and again but ultimately the government is running smoothly.

Look, I read only Urdu and Hindi newspapers. Till now their reports sound positive about the nuclear deal with the US. If there is an advantage for India, we should go for the nuclear deal with the US, there is no harm in it.

I am against snap polls, it will affect our business as well as create more trouble for common people like us.

I was told by several of my educated customers that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is honest, hardworking and committed to change the face of India. I don't think there is any better choice than him. He should continues as prime minister.

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Praveen Juneja, retired businessman, Delhi

It is a sad realisation that the 60th year of our Independence is 'celebrated' with a threat to the government. The UPA government has seemed stable so far but now the truth is coming to light.

The fact is that no good can come from all this talk of mid-term elections.

I am not completely clear about the details of the nuclear deal, but it seems to me like that it was a step forward. Indo-US ties need to be strengthened, and this deal could go a long way. Dr Singh called the deal historic and I agree with him, but I just hope it doesn't turn into a fiasco.

The Left is making unrealistic and outdated demands. In this day and age, we cannot expect to abstain from ties with America.

The UPA should take a stand against the Left parties and continue with the deal. Giving into their demands right now would be foolish. I believe if the Congress stays firm, it will call the Left's bluff; they are all talk and no action.

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Naveen Kumar, investment professional, Patna

The Left threat is only a threat, a political gimmick to impress their constituency that they stand for anti-American policy.

India should carry on with the nuclear deal with the US. It will help us in more than one way if we are eager to join the race of developed nations.

I am not in favour of snap polls. The UPA government should complete its five year term in office. The government is doing excellent work as far as growth is concerned.

Manmohan Singh should continue as prime minister. There is no need for him to resign. Congress president Sonia Gandhi should stand behind him.

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Avinash Nanda, bank executive, Mumbai

I think it is time for Manmohan Singh to resign.

The nuclear deal was always going to be controversial, and his stubborn decision to go ahead with the deal, as it currently is, will have catastrophic consequences. The NDA had, with its testing, asserted India's freewill and now here we are turning into a doormat for the US again.

Manmohan Singh has never had a clear vision for the future, and seems every bit the makeshift prime minister that he is. He is just a mouthpiece for the lady in power, and this nuclear deal should be his undoing. It's high time that he resigns as prime minister, for plunging the country into this shame.

The Left are justified as they demand a mid-term election. I think we have had enough of this constantly-adjusting government, and people have the right to reinforce their decision.

This loss of face on an international level will not be tolerated.

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Arun Singh, documentary filmmaker, Patna

The Left Front's threat is blind. It has lost relevance because everytime they issue a threat and end up compromising. The UPA government will continue as usual.

There should be a national debate on the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear deal with the US. If the deal is good for us, there is no harm in going ahead.

There is no need to go for a snap poll. It will do more harm than good for the economy.

Who will replace Manmohan Singh? He is better than many in the Congress, the right man.

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Savitri Sinha, housewife, Patna

The Left Front's threat to the government is not good for the country because it creates a political crisis. The Left should discuss and debate the issue with the government.

India should have the nuclear deal with the US. If the deal is for the nation's good, the government should move ahead despite the Left threat.

A mid-term election will not help us anyway. It will add more burden on the common Indian. Manmohan Singh is doing fine. He is a man of integrity and hard work, he should continue as PM.

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Let alone 123 or any other deal, before we enter into any agreement, there are certain basic questions the signatories ask, like, what is the advantage to me if I sign this and what will happen to me if I do not sign this. Probably I did not look at the right places or I did not look hard enough, I have not seen the answers to these questions anywhere.

If you listen to some of the pro-123 group, they say that if we do not sign this, one by one all our nuclear reactors will come to a halt within a short period of three years. Similarly, the 123 haters say that India is inviting disaster by signing the deal. We as the citizens of India do not know whether these observations are right or wrong.

Today when I read about the committee that has been formed, I see that there are only politicians in it. I wish some of the non-partisan experts are there in it so that we get an impassionate answer to our questions. So far we have heard only the Dr Jekyll part of the deal that everything is rosy and this is the best deal India could hope for. Now Mr Hyde has come into the picture with the Hyde Act. The problem is, we are only hearing totally diametrically opposite versions. The truth is somewhere in between and as citizens, we should be told the truth.

I am sure there is definitely something in it that is good for India and there is something in it which is bad for India. I feel the political parties should forget the narrow differences and come together and do what is good for the country. I think they can do that. And, when Manmohan Singh goes to sign with the backing of all the political parties, then the US will know we are talking turkey.

In the case of the Left, there seems to be a perceptible difference in the group itself. Initially they insisted that it should be a non-voting motion, I and many people like me got the impression that the Left just wanted to make noise. Apparently the differences within the Left have made them make a more strident stand. Today, you hear Sitaram Yechuri making soft statements, it seems they do not want to upset the applecart.

Basically the Left feels anything American is bad and they are taught never to trust the Americans. I feel all the noise is to score some brownie points. I don't think there are any traitor-like parties in India who will ultimately jeopardise India's interests. I think the Left has genuine doubts on this.

I don't expect a mid-term poll because in case of a mid-term poll on this issue, the NDA may score. I don't think the Left would like that. I feel the crisis will blow over. Nationally the UPA will survive the crisis.

I consider Manmohan Singh a very balanced prime minister especially in the last one year. If at all there was any timidity or diffidence earlier, he has changed now. I think his confidence has grown and he has been able to assert himself very well and take the right stance. I am sure he will not make it a prestige issue.

I don't think he should resign on this issue. He might tell the Congress high command that in case the high command is comfortable with a different person, he would step down. But I don't see the eventuality of his resigning. If we replace him now especially after the international stature he has got now, it will send wrong signals to the world especially on a deal like this. I don't think the Congress party or Sonia Gandhi in particular would like that.

I feel every country is for itself. Wherever it suits you, you can be friends. Hereafter, it is economics that will rule international politics and nothing else. The earlier we realise this, it is better for us.

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Ramlakhan Mahto, businessman, Patna

The Left Front's threat is a political drama for more say in the government. They want to influence every issue without sharing power and accountability.

Except the Left and the BJP there is none against the nuclear deal. Both are doing so for politics.

A snap poll is a bad word for us because we suffer most.

Manmohan Singh should continue; he is responsible for high growth and the rising Sensex.

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Honestly, the nuclear deal itself isn't the problem. The Left is creating its characteristic fuss because they have realised that they are in a position to call the shots. Basically, the very idea of a stable government goes against what they believe in.

This deal is nowhere near as injurious to India's pride as a lot of the media -- television channels are particularly irresponsible -- will have you believe. And yes, it will foster Indo-American relations at a time when they need to be encouraged, when the two nations need to work together more than ever. We have to acknowledge that this deal benefits us more than them.

However, it has brought us to a stalemate in India. The Left has threatened to topple the government, and then given it four months to make a decision. The Congress has met with the other UPA leaders and promised some sort of stability.

Will we see mid-term elections? No, the problem, for all its fury will definitely be calmed. The Left can't withdraw support because in the case of an election, Mayawati will back the UPA.

There will be a strong fallout though. This is the moment the NDA has been waiting for, and, coupling with the Left, the parties will bay for the prime minister's resignation. Manmohan Singh has been an ineffectual PM throughout his term, and I expect his overall failings will be constantly exposed by the Opposition.

Singh has to resign, and yes, someone like Pranab Mukherjee is likely to take his place -- if only because he can provide a much-needed, pacifying link between the Congress and the Left.

Interviews conducted by Anand Mohan Sahay, Raja Sen, Shobha Warrier