In basic principle, I am for the deal The reason is simple - we have access to Uranium for peaceful purposes. Without the deal, we do not have access. I am not sure if we should build nuclear power plants as the mechanisms to handle nuclear waste are still suspect. We may be leaving an unwanted legacy for future generations. The only point which is not understandable is why the Government cannot insist on ratification by deal by Parliament. All developed democracies have this clause in international agreements ( which is what is the 123 Agreement by US senate & Congress is all about). Why is it that we do not have this clause in all our Agreements ?
However, the deal is good for India as it gives us an option which is otherwise nonexistent.
RE:Nuclear Deal
by Bharat Kr on Jul 08, 2008 08:31 PM Permalink
Why we don't support the deal in its present form: 1. It will ban India's future nuclear tests, 2. It will stop nuclear weapon program upgradation, even asked to rollback, 3. US will blackmail India in their national and international interests. This is a deal for around 40 years, not 1 or 2 years. Read the Hyde Act carefully and think.
RE:Nuclear Deal
by All Right on Jul 08, 2008 11:33 PM Permalink
The Hyde Act is a domestic Act of the US and because it is so, is non-binding on India. However, technically, the Hyde Act binds the US (not us) while implementing the agreement. India likewise can have our own domestic laws that bind us not the US while implementing the agreement. So if each nation is adamant, it creates a gridlock. In practice and otherwise, international treaties supersede domestic laws.
hey object to the deal on the specious argument that it does not permit us to test our nuclear weapons.
The operating word is in the event of nuclear testing. Even here the agreement provides an exception - the right to test if China or Pakistan tests.
No one in the nuclear community believes any more for the need to physically test. They now test through computer simulation using past test data.
This is the reason why Vajpayee government shrewdly went for a series of explosions (5 to be precise) - to generate such a data base.
Having done that Vajpayee gave an assurance to the world through his address to the General Assembly of the UN that India no longer needs to explode any nuclear devise.
So if we are take BJP's present position seriousily, was Vajpayee and BJP in 2000 lying to the world community?
