By : Dr. L.C. Ngaihte 11/30/2007 1:17:04 AM
The joint declaration of July 18, 2007 by the heads of the two largest and biggest democracy of the World in Washington D.C. has laid the foundation for what is popularly known as the Civilian Nuclear Deal between Indian and the United States. Negotiations for the actualization of the deal has been on since then and there were times when the talk could not move speedily. In fact, at one point of time, the negotiation appears to have reached breaking point but for the timely intervention of Dick Cheney, the redoubtable Vice-President, and some other influential persons. It is a deal of great significance particularly for India given the existing paradigms of international nuclear technology trade and transfer. The deal, if successfully concluded, would open the door for nuclear trade to which the country was shunted out for the last thirty years.
Though the rest of the world do not like to recognize as such, India is a nuclear weapon state since the Pokhran blast in 1974. And in spite of not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), India has so far maintained clean record in non-proliferation or has not indulged in proliferation of nuclear weapons to other countries. The knowhow and technology it possessed has been kept in tight closet. In fact, it has no ambition to proliferate and trade with others. We do not have nuclear scientists of the like of Dr. A.Q. Khan of Pakistan. Under the circumstances, we have perhaps earned the confidence of other nations, particularly nuclear power states like the US, Russia, France, etc.
So, the United States has come forward for the “historic’ deal. In the world that we live today, whether one likes it or not, United States is a country all other nations look upto. If the government of India, under the pressure of the Left, do not, at the cost of inflicting serious damage to its international image, back out unilaterally from the deal, the United States was there to see the deal through the next steps like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSGs) in right earnest. And the conclusion and operationalisation of the deal would mean the ending of technological apartheid that hangs over our heads like a Domocles swords for the last three decades. This capping prohibit us to procure nuclear technology and knowhow from the Nuclear suppliers Groups of countries. It is simply not possible to assess how much nuclear technologies we were deprived of the last thirty years. If the deal fail, it would mean the continuation of our isolation so far as nuclear technology trade is concerned. Let us all be reminded that most of our nuclear power plants are in dire need of cutting edge nuclear technology for upgradation, renovation and restoration. At stake is their reliability.
The increasing depletion of fossil fuels is an undeniable reality. Nuclear energy was found to be a good substitute of it. There is, therefore, scramble for nuclear energy the world over. So, our civilian nuclear deal is “an idea” whose time has come!
In one of his write up K. Subrahmanyam, a leading security affairs analyst, stated that “The US and international community in their own interests have now moved to lift the technological apartheid against India without requiring India to join NPT or give up its nuclear weapons. The international framework is being modified to bring in India - and India alone - as member of non-proliferation regime” Noting the significant implications of the deal, the Times of India, (North East) dated 25/8/07 has, in its editorial, the following comment “If the deal is approved it would raise India’s stock and enable high-tech collaboration not just with the US, but also France, Germany, Japan, Russia and South East Asia......... While placating the Left therefore, the government must not allow itself to be black mailed into sacrificing the deal for the sake of its survival. The Prime Minister (PM) should stick to his stated position, and continue to dare the Marxists to bring down the government.”
It may be reiterated that we have been having, as a result of economic reform measures since 1991, a high growth rate that stunned our friends and foes alike. Power is one essential inputs for growth and development. As a matter of fact, to sustain the existing growth rate and also to propel the economy to a higher growth momentum, it is essential we have more power resources at our disposal. It is estimated that our nuclear power is expected to go up from the current 2-3 per cent of India’s energy to 6 to 8 per cent by 2031 if the deal is operationalised. And it is pertinent to note that India has set itself a target of producing 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power by 2020, provided the deal is in place. It is also hope that the deal would give India much needed uranium to power its reactors and eventually lower dependency on coal, which account for nearly 41 per cent of its energy needs. Compared with coal-based energy as a sources of power, nuclear power/energy is clean and pollutant-free. The Times Editorial of Aug, 21, 2007, commented forcefully saying: “........ And it’s not just a question of nuclear trade. All sorts of high-tech areas are potentially dual-use-from information technology (IT) to defence to space to biotech. The deal would lift restrictions on supply of dual-use technology to India from other nations......... Aborting it, on the other hand, would reduce India competitiveness in high-tech areas and potentially nuke India’s hope of turning itself into a knowledge economy.”
The Left Imperialism : When the deal was finalised, after protracted and hectic negotiations for over two years, and the government of India was about to approach, with a sense of pride and achievement, the IAEA for India-specific safeguards, the Lefts, which so far remain muted, began to flex its muscles by issuing a diktat that the government would face ‘dire consequences’ if it takes the next steps with IAEA. Without actually joining the government, the Left which has about 60 MPs, supported the formation of UPA Government from outside in the absence of clear mandate for any party. The threat worked and a join panel was constituted to address the Lefts concerns and apprehensions. The fate of the deal, so to say, is now in the hands of the join panels. Given the commitment and conviction of our political class to the cause of national interests, there is very little hope the deal will go through. If we miss the nuclear bus this time, we may not have second chance. It’s now or never.
As we know from print and electronic media, opinion polls, debate and discussions on the civilian nuclear deal, it is profoundly clear that the deal has been overwhelmingly welcome by the people of India. By the people who want to see the country progress further and developed faster. By the people who want and dare to integrate more and more with the rest of the world. By the people who do not want to be left behind and live in isolation. Let our Lefts brothers and sisters learn the art of (national) politics and economics at least from their big brother comrade China which has billions of trade surplus against the United States. It’s high time they leave behind the past and accept the emerging challenges. Let me quote the following observation once again. “It is a pity that the Indian Left refuses to move with times, when their counterparts in Europe and Latin America have junked old ideological baggage and changed beyond recognition” 3
On the Geo-politics of Asia : Last but not the least, the successful conclusion and operationalisation of the deal, according to defence experts and strategists, has vital and lasting implications for the geo-politics of Asia. It is argued that shelving the nuclear deal at this stage could forever make India into a subaltern of China in the geo-politics of Asia. Former diplomat and member of the task force on India’s nuclear posture, Arundhati Ghose 4 says if the deal fails “China will be convinced of its superiority over India and the Left would have got what it wanted”.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/ArticleFull.asp?ArticleID=192
The joint declaration of July 18, 2007 by the heads of the two largest and biggest democracy of the World in Washington D.C. has laid the foundation for what is popularly known as the Civilian Nuclear Deal between Indian and the United States. Negotiations for the actualization of the deal has been on since then and there were times when the talk could not move speedily. In fact, at one point of time, the negotiation appears to have reached breaking point but for the timely intervention of Dick Cheney, the redoubtable Vice-President, and some other influential persons. It is a deal of great significance particularly for India given the existing paradigms of international nuclear technology trade and transfer. The deal, if successfully concluded, would open the door for nuclear trade to which the country was shunted out for the last thirty years.
Though the rest of the world do not like to recognize as such, India is a nuclear weapon state since the Pokhran blast in 1974. And in spite of not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), India has so far maintained clean record in non-proliferation or has not indulged in proliferation of nuclear weapons to other countries. The knowhow and technology it possessed has been kept in tight closet. In fact, it has no ambition to proliferate and trade with others. We do not have nuclear scientists of the like of Dr. A.Q. Khan of Pakistan. Under the circumstances, we have perhaps earned the confidence of other nations, particularly nuclear power states like the US, Russia, France, etc.
So, the United States has come forward for the “historic’ deal. In the world that we live today, whether one likes it or not, United States is a country all other nations look upto. If the government of India, under the pressure of the Left, do not, at the cost of inflicting serious damage to its international image, back out unilaterally from the deal, the United States was there to see the deal through the next steps like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSGs) in right earnest. And the conclusion and operationalisation of the deal would mean the ending of technological apartheid that hangs over our heads like a Domocles swords for the last three decades. This capping prohibit us to procure nuclear technology and knowhow from the Nuclear suppliers Groups of countries. It is simply not possible to assess how much nuclear technologies we were deprived of the last thirty years. If the deal fail, it would mean the continuation of our isolation so far as nuclear technology trade is concerned. Let us all be reminded that most of our nuclear power plants are in dire need of cutting edge nuclear technology for upgradation, renovation and restoration. At stake is their reliability.
The increasing depletion of fossil fuels is an undeniable reality. Nuclear energy was found to be a good substitute of it. There is, therefore, scramble for nuclear energy the world over. So, our civilian nuclear deal is “an idea” whose time has come!
In one of his write up K. Subrahmanyam, a leading security affairs analyst, stated that “The US and international community in their own interests have now moved to lift the technological apartheid against India without requiring India to join NPT or give up its nuclear weapons. The international framework is being modified to bring in India - and India alone - as member of non-proliferation regime” Noting the significant implications of the deal, the Times of India, (North East) dated 25/8/07 has, in its editorial, the following comment “If the deal is approved it would raise India’s stock and enable high-tech collaboration not just with the US, but also France, Germany, Japan, Russia and South East Asia......... While placating the Left therefore, the government must not allow itself to be black mailed into sacrificing the deal for the sake of its survival. The Prime Minister (PM) should stick to his stated position, and continue to dare the Marxists to bring down the government.”
It may be reiterated that we have been having, as a result of economic reform measures since 1991, a high growth rate that stunned our friends and foes alike. Power is one essential inputs for growth and development. As a matter of fact, to sustain the existing growth rate and also to propel the economy to a higher growth momentum, it is essential we have more power resources at our disposal. It is estimated that our nuclear power is expected to go up from the current 2-3 per cent of India’s energy to 6 to 8 per cent by 2031 if the deal is operationalised. And it is pertinent to note that India has set itself a target of producing 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power by 2020, provided the deal is in place. It is also hope that the deal would give India much needed uranium to power its reactors and eventually lower dependency on coal, which account for nearly 41 per cent of its energy needs. Compared with coal-based energy as a sources of power, nuclear power/energy is clean and pollutant-free. The Times Editorial of Aug, 21, 2007, commented forcefully saying: “........ And it’s not just a question of nuclear trade. All sorts of high-tech areas are potentially dual-use-from information technology (IT) to defence to space to biotech. The deal would lift restrictions on supply of dual-use technology to India from other nations......... Aborting it, on the other hand, would reduce India competitiveness in high-tech areas and potentially nuke India’s hope of turning itself into a knowledge economy.”
The Left Imperialism : When the deal was finalised, after protracted and hectic negotiations for over two years, and the government of India was about to approach, with a sense of pride and achievement, the IAEA for India-specific safeguards, the Lefts, which so far remain muted, began to flex its muscles by issuing a diktat that the government would face ‘dire consequences’ if it takes the next steps with IAEA. Without actually joining the government, the Left which has about 60 MPs, supported the formation of UPA Government from outside in the absence of clear mandate for any party. The threat worked and a join panel was constituted to address the Lefts concerns and apprehensions. The fate of the deal, so to say, is now in the hands of the join panels. Given the commitment and conviction of our political class to the cause of national interests, there is very little hope the deal will go through. If we miss the nuclear bus this time, we may not have second chance. It’s now or never.
As we know from print and electronic media, opinion polls, debate and discussions on the civilian nuclear deal, it is profoundly clear that the deal has been overwhelmingly welcome by the people of India. By the people who want to see the country progress further and developed faster. By the people who want and dare to integrate more and more with the rest of the world. By the people who do not want to be left behind and live in isolation. Let our Lefts brothers and sisters learn the art of (national) politics and economics at least from their big brother comrade China which has billions of trade surplus against the United States. It’s high time they leave behind the past and accept the emerging challenges. Let me quote the following observation once again. “It is a pity that the Indian Left refuses to move with times, when their counterparts in Europe and Latin America have junked old ideological baggage and changed beyond recognition” 3
On the Geo-politics of Asia : Last but not the least, the successful conclusion and operationalisation of the deal, according to defence experts and strategists, has vital and lasting implications for the geo-politics of Asia. It is argued that shelving the nuclear deal at this stage could forever make India into a subaltern of China in the geo-politics of Asia. Former diplomat and member of the task force on India’s nuclear posture, Arundhati Ghose 4 says if the deal fails “China will be convinced of its superiority over India and the Left would have got what it wanted”.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/ArticleFull.asp?ArticleID=192
