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Will India's nuke policy work?
There is an apprehension why India did not go through an inter-Governmental Agreement with Russia when the Russian government was prepared to supply nuclear reactors to India.
- By D. Raja, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:40 July 4, 2008
We are a democracy with a vibrant and sovereign Parliament. It is imperative that the government takes the Parliament, political parties and the people into confidence before operationalising the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.
The Left parties came out with a statement on August 7 in which we had asked the government not to proceed further to operationalise the deal. There is no change in the position of the Left. Our position on 123 Agreement remains the same, which is based on our own understanding. It is not based on anti-Americanism. It is also not true that we are opposing the deal due to China.
In fact, the US has an agenda which is open as well as hidden. It wants India to be its military ally and a dependable strategic partner. That is one reason why the US is more pro-active in getting this deal clinched. While appearing before the Senate and the House Committees in April 2006, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that this deal would benefit security by bringing India into the non-proliferation mainstream.
Besides talking about benefits to the US consumers by reducing the pressure on global energy markets, especially carbon-based fuels and the benefit to the environment by reducing carbon emission green house gases, she said that the deal will benefit US business interests though sales to India of nuclear reactors, fuel and support services, etc. She also talked about global partnership between India and the US.
The same has also been confirmed by Nicholas Burns who said: "It [nuclear deal] will send a powerful message to nuclear outlaws such as Iran. If you play by the rules as India has, you will be rewarded. If you do not, you will face sanctions and isolation." This is the grand design of the US on Asia and wants India to play the role of say a kind of Israel in South Asia. The US wants India to be part of a kind of Asian Nato.
The deal would also have an impact on our foreign policy position. The Common Minimum Programme that we agreed upon with the ruling coalition before extending our outside support to the incumbent government states: "Even as it pursues closer engagement in relations with the US, the UPA government will maintain the independence of India's foreign policy position on all regional and global issues. The UPA government is committed to deepening its ties with Russia and Europe as well." However, in reality, the independence of our foreign policy seems to have been compromised. India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is an example. We cannot find fault with Iran for this gas pipeline not coming up. Washington openly challenged this gas pipeline project which was an outright interference. The gas pipeline project not coming through, I feel, has something to do with out understanding of the US ties. There is also the question of Russian reactors.
There is an apprehension why India did not go through an inter-Governmental Agreement with Russia when the Russian government was prepared to supply nuclear reactors to India.
There is a misconception that India has gained a great deal in comparison to US-China or US-Japan deal. It is somewhat misplaced since 123 Agreement has an impact. The Henry Hyde Act is the enabling Act. Nicholas Burns on record has made it very clear that the Hyde Act is an enabling legislation for India-US 123 Agreement. Even the National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan went on record to confirm that during negotiations all the requirements of the Hyde Act were taken care of. How can one then say that the Hyde Act has nothing to do with India and that we are bound by the 123 Agreement only?
It is not that the Left is opposed to nuclear energy. We understand the importance of nuclear energy and the need about clean energy. India, for that matter, already has nuclear energy. Official documents that gives worldwide data for nuclear power reactors up to May 2007 states that India has got 17 reactors under operation and we generate 2.6 per cent of nuclear energy out of the total energy generated. Now, if this deal goes through, the projection is that by 2020 India will have 6.8 per cent nuclear energy. It means there will be an increase of 4.2 per cent. We in the Left feel it is not worth the economic cost and the political cost that India will have to pay, when it is well known that nuclear energy is the most expensive and India's other sources also can be a better option in the Indian context.
Hydel power, thermal power, solar energy, wind energy - all these can be considered. In addition to that, we have developed our own indigenous nuclear technology. Those supporting the deal also talk about India not having enough uranium deposits and that the quality of Indian uranium is very low. I am not sure if this is based on any scientific proof.
Arguments that nuclear agreement will raise India to the high table of the Nuclear Club or that we would get away from nuclear apartheid, etc are all epithets to hoodwink people. The fact remains that even the US has not built any new nuclear reactors for the past three decades and that they are looking for a big nuclear market in India. That is why we feel this agreement is detrimental to our national interest.
This agreement will definitely not make India emerge as a stronger and prosperous nation. India needs a self-reliant nuclear policy.
We want the government not to rush through with this agreement and do anything in haste. The Parliament, political parties and people must be taken into confidence. The majority of opinion both inside and outside the Parliament is against the deal. The deal should not be pushed through in the name of Aam Admi (common man) since we in the Left also know what Aam Admi thinks. The government must not proceed any further and operationalise this deal.
The writer is a Member of Indian Parliament from Tamil Nadu and national secretary of the Communist Party of India.
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