Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - “India-US Nuclear Agreement: Deal or No Deal?”

Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - “India-US Nuclear Agreement: Deal or No Deal?” [Druckversion]

“India-US Nuclear Agreement: Deal or No Deal?”

Year 2007 began with “India-US Nuclear Agreement: Deal or No Deal?” at the People’s Forum. This Forum was organized on 12th January 2007 at the amphitheatre of the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. The Forum invited three prominent persons on its panel namely Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson Congress, Prakash Jadvekar, Spokesperson BJP and Brahma Chellaney, a security expert.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi spoke in favour of the Agreement, by highlighting the primary motivation- Energy Security, the engine for growth. He was of the opinion that too much should not be read in the Hyde Act, a law which assists the US government to prevent the use of nuclear technology for military purposes by India. India had turned the tables and negotiated a better deal than it was envisaged by the previous Government. India will exercise supreme caution and safeguards to ensure that the India-US Nuclear Agreement is in no way detrimental to its interests. Besides, with this agreement in place, India has attained entry into the Nuclear Club.

Prakash Jadvekar opposed the deal and said it was uncalled for. There were number of issues that were not in the interest of India, especially security issues. With this agreement in place, India has not only compromised all its nuclear installations and programmes but it has also allowed US to influence our foreign policy. This deal has compromised India’s sovereignty. On the deal, he blamed the government for not taking cognizance of the recommendations of our nuclear scientists. He was of the opinion that India was capable enough to handle its Nuclear programme without necessarily having to engaged in a deal with the US.

Brahma Chellaney, expressed his dissatisfaction over the deal. The deal is now under discussion for almost 18 months, but with no results. Therefore there must be certain unresolved issues. He also mentioned that US nuclear power technology is antiquated therefore gains envisaged are not realistic. He blamed that the government failed to do its homework before signing the agreement. If it was diplomatic one-upmanship, perhaps India has scored some brownies but realistically this is a no deal in all circumstances.

The programme, though being organized in an open environment was attended by more than 120 participants including among others the German Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission, German Embassy.

People’s Forum is a joint initiative of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies and the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation.