I agree, there should be open debate on the deal. But it presupposes, all parties participate objectively. Objectivity is the last thing for BJP & the leftists. BJP is trying to gain electoral benefits. Before they saw the deal, they started opposing it. After seeing the deal, they had kept quite for a couple of days and then two half baked politicians - Arun Shourie & Jaswant Sinha started blabbering with the sole motive of scoring brownie points for electoral benefits. So far the leftists are concerned, they are guided by anti Americanism and pro China considerations. Chinese leaders must be smiling at the present discomfiture of of the UPA government. If one tries to analyse the pluses and minuses of the deal, one must ask what are the interests of India and the US. Answer is India gets unlimited supply of nuclear power, which is likely to reduce our dependance on energy from middle east will be reduced & that gives us more freedom to deal with them. The equlibrium will not be disturbed by the US as they requre India's friendship. If we go for nuclear test, the outcome is uncertain, but it cannot be worse than performing a test in the absence of deal. Gap between our 2 tests were 24 years. Probably next will be 15 years from now during which time our benefit will be enormous. US's interst is to have India on their side. If we go with that without bending back, what's wrong? Can we get something without giving something? Today India is too strong to be bullied.
