I want to react very strongly to your opinion about nuclear deal.I'd guess you havent read the text of nuke deal and Manmohan singh's team have done a very good job though not the best.
Nuke deal will be with NSG-international community and not just US. US was just a good starting/entry point. Infact, you'll observe that we'll be buying most of the uranium from France, Russia & Aus and not US. France & Russia are already supplying us with nuclear material but in very limited amounts. Now, to talk about BARC & AEC, they are also doing decent job though not a very good job. BARC & AEC require "fuel" -- you cant create fuel!!!.. However, the alternative is to use thorium. most importantly, you need nuclear fuel until our scientists get ready with the thorium based reactor. It requires good amount of research and you should applaud the scientists work till now given that India was under sanctions for the past 30 years.. And this nuclear deal will help remove that sanctions and expedite research on thorium based reactor.
And, I understand emotional comments like "selling country" etc.... That is not at all true. There is nothing being sold except "compromise that IAEA might doing inspections of our civilian nuclear facilities"
US's interests are obvious: a) Increased oil consumption by India,China leads to higher oil prices. b) Containing china in this region c) It can have ensured that Indian nuclear program is more transparent that it was earlier.
RE:To all those who are against Nuke deal
by kile leax on Sep 07, 2007 10:58 AM Permalink
It sounds like you could be the successor to the Hon. Abdul Kalaam.
RE:To all those who are against Nuke deal
by Sugata Ray on Sep 07, 2007 11:02 AM Permalink
Probably a little more knowlwdge is necessary. Firstly, the deal is going to provide a maximum output of 20,000 MW of power which is 7% of India's requirement. On the other hand DAE, India confirms that they are capable of producing much more than this in long run and they do not need any technological or infrastructural supports other than only Uranium fuel. Infact, Indian Government has started Uranium mining at many places in India, mainly Jharkhand, and committed a sum of nearly 4,000 crore towards this purpose. So, clearly just from the energy point of view this deal is not of central importance. We are utterly misguided here. Secondly, it is true that US is just an entry but a deal with US doesn't automatically ensure a nod from NSG and India has to separately ask for permission from NSG which is certainly unsure (see Aussie response). Thirdly, US certainly wants to put pressure on India to align with them. During the discussion in their senate, there was a direct amendment which wanted India to isolate itself from Iran to get this deal. But, later this was removed and the HYDE act was proposed to serve the same purpose through the President of USA. However, India eventually voted twice against Iran during this period in IAEA. The current news is very consistent with these attempts. Somehow, we hate to be associated with China but feel glad to do the same with USA which has the nastiest democratic records historically worldwide! Aren't we surprized or ashamed?
RE:To all those who are against Nuke deal
by Aftab on Sep 07, 2007 10:34 AM Permalink
In all fairness the 123 dael is in the larger interest of India and we should not abandon this agreement under pressure from BJP or left parties.Even those political parties have not been able to find major fault.
BJP has a habit of making many contradictory statements to suit their political ends and this is the reason why the statement of Yashwant Sinha and LK Advani contradicts each other. They will use the two contradictory statements as per their convenience.
Left parties have ideological difference with a capitalistic regime. It is their birth right to have an opinion.The concern that India's Foreign policy will be affected is true to some extent. But have we not shifted from Non aligned to pro Russia and then Pro Free market policies in the last two decades.India has of course went against its stated positions on couple of occassions (Iraq & Iran issues).
However, We have to choose whether we should take the position that suits us best or be adament on our stand and face isolation on issues where the world opinion is different from us.If we choose to stand by our opinion and disregard the world opinion then we stand to loose a lot and India can not afford this at this juncture. We do not have such a strong economy.
Despite all these India has refused to send army personnel to Iraq and this shows that we can make some compromise but can not abandon our policies.
RE:To all those who are against Nuke deal
by rajagopalan athreya on Sep 07, 2007 10:36 AM Permalink
As such the agreement is fine but the same should be read along with the Hyde Act which is the concern...I do not think this is unmanageable..It is just that our Parliament also has to pass a legislation circumventing the Hyde Act..Every Country has the right to protect its right..So does USA and so do US...One should also understand that the cost of nuclear power is atleast 4 times costlier to our present cost..NLC, being the power generator at the lowest cost in the World..Nevertheless we need to go ahead with this to get access to Technology...
RE:To all those who are against Nuke deal
by A G on Sep 07, 2007 10:54 AM Permalink
Wud love to believe all this. Question is why does Mannu not address the concerns raised by others who also have India's concerns close to their heart, thrash issues which have been raised by giving thought thru answers and not by giving evasive replies, include members from all parties and intellectuals into the committee. Given the sordid events carried out by Congress, latest being the way, they released Quatrocchi money and then the man himself, this govt has no credibility. Thruout this sad incidents, Mannu kept telling the nation that he has no role in it !! How do you believe statements from such a man ? Also, if as he says that the entire negotiation for the deal was started by the BJP, why is he not honest enough to give some credit to them instead of trying to keep them out of the loop ?
