Understanding Indo-US nuclear deal -The political way

Indo US nuclear deal has again come into limelight recently and the debate is again hotting up whether this deal is good or bad for the country. After almost one year we are again witnessing the same drama over the issue. Many people don’t know what exactly this deal is all about and why the LEFT are opposing it as well as all other opposing parties whereas Our Prime-minister seems dejected to the opposition to this deal. This article is aimed at demystifying the whole issue from the political point of view and provide an insight into the whole drama.

Before analyzing the issue we should first summarize what this deal is all about. The main points in this deal are enumerated below.

1. US will help India negotiate with the IAEA for an India-specific fuel supply agreement.

2. Washington will support New Delhi develop strategic reserves of nuclear fuel to guard against future disruption of supply.In case of disruption, US and India will jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries to include nations like Russia, France and the UK to pursue such measures to restore fuel supply.

3.  India and the US agree to transfer nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment and components.

4. Low enriched uranium can be transferred for use as fuel in reactor experiments and in reactors for conversion or fabrication.

5. The ambit of the deal include research, development, design, construction, operation, maintenance and use of nuclear reactors, reactor experiments and decommissioning.

6.  India can develop strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of its reactors.

7. The US to engage Nuclear Suppliers Group to help India obtain full access to the international fuel market, including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access to fuel supplies from firms in several nations.

8. Both the countries to set up a Joint Committee for implementation of the civil nuclear agreement and development of further cooperation in this field.

9. The legislation amends Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. It lets the US make a one-time exception for India to keep its nuclear weapons without signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

For more you can visit http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Highlights-of-IndoUS-nuclear-deal/208405/ .

So over all the deal seems to be a good one from India’s point of view and it will be a giant step towards making India self reliant in nuclear energy. It will solve the whole energy crisis which has curtailed India’s progress. No wonder our Prime minister is so much resentful in not being able to convert this deal into reality. By saying this by no means I am trying to convey that congress is really bent towards the welfare of the country and others are not. Congress loves to be in power as much as others do and this can be explained by the fact that it did not push for the deal last year. If it would have gone for the deal then in every possibility the left would have withdrawn support and the government would have fallen. That would mean two and half years less in power! But now the question arises why The Government want to go for the deal now because the equation remains the same and the chances of this Government lasting its full term is bleak in case of the deal going through?

The answer to this question is complex but interesting. The main intention of our Prime minister is to leave an indelible mark on the Indian history as Prime minister, as he did as Finance minister, in bringing the reform which is paying us till today. Till now the performance of this government can be termed as mediocre and there are no reason that congress can come back in power. Deterrents like inflation at 13 year high of 11% , increase in fuel prices along with anti- incumbency factors will prove to be too much for congress in the coming election. So, now Congress sees this deal as a means to gain the lost popularity and goodwill of the people by going for this deal and “sacrificing power” for the good of the country.

Whatever be the reason behind the Congress to push for the deal now , as long as it is in country’s intrest it is good. There are other reasons also which points to the fact that this is the right time to push for the deal. Cracks are appearing in the opposition camp of BJP over the deal and powerful forces in the BJP camp have not opposed the deal like Arun Jaitley and Murli Manohar Joshi. Brajesh Mishra have even said that the deal is worth considering. Moreover other parties like Samajwaadi party and RJD along with DMK are in support.

So, it all depend on Mr. Manmohan singh and Sonia Gandhi to decide whether they want six month more in the office by giving in to the pressure of a party which have 19th century ideals or they want to step down from the Chair by giving in to the welfare of people?  Come on Mr. manmohan singh, take one tough stand in your tenure, and be assured that the coming generations will remember you for years to come.  One loose step here will put your name in Oblivion.