M A I L B A G

Key to end nuclear apartheid

In his article, “Deal with the US” (Aug 23), G. Parthasarathy rightly says that the Indo-US nuclear agreement is the only key to end nuclear apartheid practised against India. Its implementation will not only improve India’s relations with the US but also do away with the global nuclear sanctions against India.

Clearly, all promises made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been duly kept. The agreement will enable India to have nuclear fuel and nuclear technology from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to meet its energy requirements. The pact provides for India to maintain stockpiles of nuclear fuel that can meet the lifetime requirements of imported reactors even if the US terminates the fuel supply. India should successfully negotiate with the IAEA and the NSG.

In the changed world scenario, there will be no need for India to conduct nuclear test. India and other NSG members are not concerned with the Hyde Act passed by the US Congress. We hope the Left and the Opposition will surely fall in line by rising above their political interests. The agreement is historic and it will open new vistas of economic cooperation.

Why should China and Pakistan oppose the agreement? What is wrong if India intends to improve its relations to meet her energy and trade requirements? The agreement is never concerned with arms and armaments; it is for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Moreover Russia, the UK, France, Japan, Australia and some other NSG members have assured their support to the agreement.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

Now that the two democracies have come together as partners, we must guide and control each other’s conduct. We might as well negotiate and put in place a treaty of mutual defence and at the same time remove irritants with Pakistan and China.

The Left had applauded India when we signed a similar treaty with the Soviet Union many years ago. It should be prepared to shed its irrational anti-Americanism and work towards this noble objective. The agreement with the US will open new doors in capitals across the world. It is another step in our journey to regain our due place in global councils. When future generations look back, they will come to acknowledge the significance of this historic deal.

SHAILESH KUMAR, Bangalore

III

I wonder why Prakash Karat and his party do not want India to take the next two steps in the nuclear engagement with the US because the subsequent steps will engage India with many more countries, diluting the hitherto isolation of our people from the larger world.

Surely, we can be confident of our ability to transact what is the best deal for us and continue to ensure, through democratic negotiations, that we are not taken for a ride or exploited. But during the past two years, apart from barking and snapping at the Centre every time the nuclear deal came up for discussion, the Left has done precious little.

Let us not forget that it was the Left which broke ranks with the Opposition when the BJP suggested that a “Sense of the House Resolution” be adopted to fix the bottomline of the deal. Having rescued the government then, it can’t ask for its scalp now.

Dr J.S. ACHARYA, Hyderabad

IV

The nuclear deal is a must for meeting our future energy requirements. India has nothing to lose by signing the 123-deal barring the “right” to future testing by India. In today’s globalised world, national security comes from economic strength and not through nuclear bomb.

The world will depend more on an economically strong India than on a weak India. Sadly, our politicians seem unable to understand this simple logic. We had witnessed how Dr Manmonhan Singh faced similar resistance from the Opposition and the Left when he started the reform process in the Narasimha Rao regime. See how well they have turned out now.

Dr Manmohan Singh should go ahead with the nuclear deal even at the cost of fresh mandate. People will then vote this government with more seats to teach a lesson to both the right and left of the country.

BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad

V

CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan has said that the withdrawal of support to the UPA government is “inevitable” (Aug 17). This is nothing but an empty threat.

There is divergence of opinion among the Left leaders. According to West Bengal CPM secretary Biman Bose, the differences over the nuclear deal don’t mean that the Left will withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh government. Thus, while the CPM is a responsible Opposition party, it does not want to push the country towards instability and chaos.

AMAR JIT SINGH GORAYA, Griffith NSW (Australia)

VI

The Left parties should keep national interest in mind while commenting on the nuclear deal. Otherwise, China and Pakistan will walk away with the cake. Our Prime Minister’s stand on the agreement is correct and it would help promote our energy security. Nuclear power plants are necessary for meeting the increasing demand of electricity and limited natural resources.

KAMALJIT MALWA, Mansa