Now France wants to offer N-cooperation with India. France, no doubt, is a leader in civil N-technology, having attained near self-sufficiency in power production using Nuclear reactors. But it is difficult to forget the time when France was in the forefront of not just denying N-technology but ridiculing Indian N-research. They laughed at the Fast Breeder program as a dead project. They announced to the world that the Indians did not know what they were doing and their endeavor was bound to fail miserably. They pointed to the combined European effort in FBR development which had failed. So they confidently pronounced that in the light of this, Indians had no chance. The other Europeans though subdued in the beginning, joined the shouting and jeering brigade! Such has been the arrogance of France. So we should be very careful and analyse every move of these past naysayers critically before considering and deals. The reality is that except for Russia no one else in the world has ever been sincere in extending Nuke resources or technology to India. However, during the period of isolation even Russian help was more symbolic and psychological rather than of any real material or intellectual worth! The ultimate truth about Nuke technology is that IT HAS TO BE ENTIRELY YOUR OWN. All that India need from any of these countries is to let us import components of dual use freely. THAT IS THE BOTTOMLINE OF ANY NUKE DEAL, be it with US or France or Russia!
