In the concluding part of his interaction with The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra says there is a link between the RSS and the BJP which cannot be broken, but it is necessary for both the organisations to take a re-look at their policies and ideologies.

•They (the UPA) took great comfort from the fact that you came around to supporting the nuclear deal in the end.

I started supporting the nuclear deal when an assurance was given to me that the strategic programme is not being undermined. I have also been in favour of good relations with the United States.

•Did you try to convince the BJP leadership?

There was a dialogue in Atalji’s house between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Atalji, Advaniji and others. There was no need for me to convince anyone.

•Why didn’t that dialogue prove successful?

It is very difficult to say, but my reading is that there were some people in the BJP who said, ‘we have now taken a position and we can’t go back on it’.

•Would you call that excessive rigidity?

It was a political decision, let me put it that way.

•Was it a political mistake?

Yes. I am going to be lambasted by the BJP for this. You see, the nuclear deal was only one aspect of Indo-American relations. The vast majority of the middle class in this country wants good relations with the US and when you (the BJP) are opposing the nuclear deal, they took it to mean that you were opposing good relations with the US.

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