I’m seriously contemplating changing my profession to Soothsaying. In the wake of what I wrote about the Resident Idiot’s ramblings comes fresh, but expected tidings: PM’s pipeline remarks unfortunate: Left The Left is not alone. The Workers of the World are vocal in condemning Dr.Singh both on the nuclear deal as well his skepticism on the Iran pipeline project.

The Left’s fury was ignited by this interview that Dr.Singh gave to Washington Post.

Washington Post: Can you discuss India’s discussions with building a gas pipeline with Iran?

Singh: As far as the pipeline is concerned, only preliminary discussions have taken place. We are terribly short of our energy supply and we desperately need new sources of energy. And that’s why with Pakistan we have agreed to explore the possibility of the pipeline. But I am realistic enough to realize that there are many risks, because considering all the uncertainties of the situation there in Iran. I don’t know if any international consortium of bankers would probably underwrite this. But we are in a state of preliminary negotiations, and the background of this is we desperately need the supply of gas that Iran has.

With his feet in the right place, the gentle Dr.Singh articulates the situation well. For a moment, try and imagine Harkishen Surjeet or Yechury or Karat’s reaction to the same situation… More than three months ago, Nitin–the Acorn has become my favourite reference source in these matters–had expressed something similar.

Most of the previous arguments against the pipeline have dealt with the implications of its transit through Pakistan - from Pakistan’s inability to guarantee its safety to its ability, nay inclination, to use it as a tool for coercive diplomacy. Giving Pakistan the ability to throttle the Indian economy and then expecting it not to do so is not the best of ideas to ’secure’ India’s future energy supplies.

This does not, however, mean that there are no concerns about ’supplier risk’. Iran’s relationship with the United States is in a state of flux, and its nuclearisation, should it happen, has profound implications for India too. As long as the Iranian regime remains at loggerheads with the United States, it is not prudent to enter into deals that require investment in long-term fixed infrastructure. That does not mean India has to yield to American pressure on how it conducts its relations with Iran. [..] The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline is an idea whose time has not yet come. India’s loony Left lives up to its description when it argues that India must push ahead with the project simply because America is against it.

Maybe he too can switch professions because the Left has exactly done the same thing he had predicted. The Left’s non-resident stooge, Vijay Prashad–who among other things, is (in)famous for pioneering the stellar racial theory that Dalits are Indian Blacks–argues in favour of the pipedream pipeline for no better reason than “confidence building” between India and Pakistan.

The pipeline, it should be pointed out, is as much a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan as it is a means for the transmission of energy.

Indeed, and as Nitin points out, it can also be used as a tool for coercive diplomacy. These pragmatic observations made by ordinary citizens hardly matter to the likes of Comrade Karat.

Karat said that the Left parties expressed concern at the remarks made by the PM to “Washington Post”, in which he is reported to have said that the pipeline project “is fraught with difficulties” like no international consortium was coming forward to underwrite the project.

He said the Left parties consider the progress of the pipeline project as an “acid test” for the UPA government’s commitment to an independent policy serving national interests.

Serving national interests by mortgaging energy deals to proven terrorist states and nuclear proliferators? One shudders at the prospect of the Commies gaining total control of our Parliament.