The Nuclear Deal
I have never been able to understand the reason as to why some well meaning people in India, interested in India's progress, should oppose the so-called nuclear deal.
So far as India is concerned, it's merely a passport to nuclear commerce which is now totally denied to it (and it badly needs uranium -- very urgently -- because most of its atomic power projects are functioning far below capacity on account of shortage of the material -- vide the following article by a former Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission http://www.indianexpress.com/story/289768.html).
America may have some leverage under the Hyde Act ONLY and ONLY if India signs a contract with a US company to buy nuclear materials or nuclear technology. Once the whole process is through, why should India deal with an American company at all?
The point is that France or Russia or any other country CANNOT sell nuclear material or technology to India unless and until the process is completed.
Once the process is over, India can decide to deal only with countries other than the US which are in NO WAY bound by the Hyde Act.
US corporates will then find that they cannot sign any contracts with India unless they get their lawmakers to suitably amend the Hyde Act. Otherwise they will get NO business.
So, it will be a case, as far as India is concerned, of heads I win, tails you lose.
Ram Narayanan
posted by US-India Friendship | 2:03 PM
3 Comments:
It's my belief that a future that includes nuclear power and armament is neither the route to energy independence nor peace. Therefore I oppose it not just for India but any country. The fact that other countries have already "had their chance," is no longer an excuse. Let's choose to exercise responsibility instead.
It is indeed puzzling. For far too long India has been on the sidelines of the nuclear apartheid regime without strategic benefits to show for it. In the meantime, the P-5 have merrily built and refined powerful nuclear weapons. One of them in India's neighborhood has even proliferated blatantly, to the further detriment of India's security.
The key is for India to get a foot into the regime. Otherwise, we will continue to suffer both on the energy and weaponization fronts. India does not have an adequate nuclear fuel source. Is India so insecure that it cannot see the benefits of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal? The answer has to be "no". The India of today is different from that in the 70s to the mid 90s on some key counts. Economically, we are growing in strength. Further, all the stars are aligned to favor India in geopolitics. Major powers see the long term advantage of aligning with India, a diverse and vibrant democracy. There is a credible case for India to be one of the poles of a multi-polar world.
Then, why the impasse? There are powerful vested calculations in play here, many of which are myopic or are not directly related to the merits of the Deal itself. Let's start with India's enemies within India, otherwise known as "communists". These miserable parasites have a compulsive reactive attitude to any engagement of the USA. They blame India for the 1962 war started by China. They still talk about US "imperialism" while being shamelessly willing to barter away India's strategic independence. The Nuclear Deal situation is a nice opportunity to show their masters in Beijing that their interests will always be protected. All this while China has been seeking to strategically encircle India for the past few decades. How do these guys sleep at night with a clear conscience?
The bottom line is that if the current government was not hostage to the communists, the deal would have been carried forward. The BJP, which took the bold decision to conduct the nuclear tests and remove any ambiguity on the nuclear status, has been utterly disappointing in the context of the Nuclear Deal. Are they unwilling to share credit with the Congress on this count? Otherwise, why would there be an emphasis on the "absolutist" perspective with regard to the Hyde Act? It is disappointing that the land that produced the political genius Chanakya cannot play the Nuclear Deal to its strategic advantage. The absolutionists who object to the Deal seem to be warped in only one future trajectory they are sure will evolve. What about several other future trajectories that can unfold if India plays its cards deliberately? Especially, given that India is on the ascendancy!
Dear Sir, There is reams and reams written on pro and anti deal by various enthusiasts on either side. The Deal will be through at an appropriate time, when both countries India and the US align their policies to each others mutual needs. The Nay sayers to the Deal are essentially objecting to what they feel is American policy restrictions and stipulations that will come along with it along with big business. They are not so much concerned about the technical aspects and benefits of the Deal.
The US pro deal people including administration too has contributed to their antipathy by being bolshie about the whole thing ,like laying dead lines and making statements which indicate a client - server relationship. The Deal will be through once the US administration is able to win the hearts and minds of the No dealers in India and this will have to be undertaken willy - nilly for the No deal lobby will continue to have a say in policy making even in the next government in India, when ever that happens. Till then happy debating.
Rahul Bhonsle
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