Sunday, June 29, 2008

Indo US nuclear deal

The Manmohan singh government is under pressure to go ahead and approach IAEA to ratify the India specific safeguards. Time is running out for the Union government . The leftist allies of UPA are stalling this move, primarily because it is a deal with US. They don't seem to have a valid reason other than this. They are using the 'support pull out' so effectively, since majority of the congressmen are also not in favour of a snap poll. Governments failure to control inflation, and the recent gains by BJP in the just concluded assembly polls have made the congress, and its other allies minus leftists in UPA wary of early polls.

Nuclear power generation is the only answer to our increased energy demands. These energy demands will only grow further in the years to come.Further growth and development in nuclear power generation is possible only with external technological assistance.Most importantly for our nuclear fuel requirements, we have to depend on others. Continous hike in crude oil prices will be a regular affair in the coming years.There are no signs of crude oil prices coming down.under these circumstances, nuclear energy is the only viable alternative. After the pokhran test,other nuclear countries are not giving technological assistance.We are not a signatory to the NPT also. Getting fuel from NSG countries is a must for our nuclear plants.

Besides,as PM feels, it is a question of credibility for the country.India will cut a sorry figure in front of the international community. It will surely be a step backward for India. BJP is opposing the deal, for political compulsions. The scientific community, however has both supporters for the deal and those who oppose the deal.

By and large, majority of the public are in favour of the deal, as long as the deal does not jeopardise India's sovereignty.If SJP comes to the rescue and supports the government on the nuclear deal issue, the Manmohan singh government must muster courage to go ahead with the deal, at the risk of severing the ties with the leftists in the interest of the nation.

But the SJP could strike a bargain with congress.Support could be extended for the deal by the SJP in return for a consideration.Obviously the consideration would be dumping the 33 % women reservation Bill in cold storage again. It is a pity political parties have a self centered agenda also,apart from their ideologies. Most of the time compromises are made on ideologies, but not on the hidden agenda. Well, that is politics!



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