Some thoughts on the India-US civilian nuclear deal

So after a lot of suspence and nail-biting the Indo-US nuke deal has got the nod from the 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group. OK, India has impeccable credentials in non-proliferation and could make a strong case for the deal, but the credit for the deal passing goes to the US. US top leaders made discrete calls to recalcitrant countries to smoothen the path.

We all know the basics of the deal. I won't go into the intricacies of it for the simple reason that I myself got totally fogged trying to imbibe the fine print. I gave up. But no sorrow, I am sure many of our esteemed leaders too haven't the foggiest about the complete details. For me if Abdul Kalam says it is good for the country, that is good enough for me. Dr. Kalam can be trusted blindly. He has India's interests closest to his heart. Sad, that petty politics prevented his return for a second term as President.

From what little I savvy, if India does nuclear tests, the supply of nuclear technology will be stopped. No worries. India has no need in the present for more nuke tests. What we need are the latest nuclear technologies for power generation. Our scientists can then imbibe them better. Especially practical use of these techs will speed up.

WHY IS THE US SO EAGER ABOUT THE DEAL?

The US is no Mother Teresa (no governments are), that it altruistically wanted India to get the latest nuke techs and materials. Its major interest is to build India as a counterweight to the growing might of China. The other concern was the gas emissions by India's dependence on coal fired power plants. Nuke plants will be clean.

CHINA, THE USUAL BAD GUY

China's demeanour throughout the NSG show reminded us of the 1960s. Then Chou En Lou had said things like "Hindi-Chini bhai bhai" and shaken Nehru's hand warmly. Then they attacked us militarily.

In the NSG clearance process too, China stuck out like a sore thumb, raising piddly objections. The aim was to stall the process. This despite the fact that Hu Jintao had assured Manmohan Singh of his country's support when the two had met some months back. China fell in line only after Bush phoned up the Chinese leader and mentioned a file on China's sins. India too sent some stern notes.

China, it seems, will never become our friend. And we had wholeheartedly supported China's candidature for a seat as a permanent member in the UN Security Council in the early seventies!

FRANCE AND RUSSIA TO BENEFIT FROM BEING EARLY BIRDS?

India has got the clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group. This gives it the freedom to trade in nuclear technologies with any country. France and Russia have been our good friends and have been ready to give us nuclear power plants since ages. With the NSG green signal they will rush in. The French build the most advanced plants, better than US or Russian companies. Then will French and Russian companies grab the whole Indian pie?

That would hard on the US. After all they are the ones who have brought us into the nuclear power trade. The US companies can trade with India only after the Congress passes the Indo-US Nuclear Deal.

It has been unwritten gentleman's agreement between the two countries that India will give US companies a substantial slice of the pie. That is why the Bush administration is so impatiently pushing the deal through the US Congress.

Some thoughts on Congress winning the trust vote

The left parties and the BJP have shouted themselves hoarse that the Congress party has used money to influence the trust vote in parliament recently. Well, it is true. Crores of rupees have been given to eight BJP MPs who abstained and to MPs of smaller parties and independents.

But what is wrong with that? Politicians are here for money and power. And if the only way to stay in power is to use money, then what is wrong in using it? Do you think the eight BJP MPs who abstained had any other motive than money or their future prospects in mind? What do you think? Sonia Gandhi should have invited them over for dinner and explained the advantages of the US-Nuclear Deal point by point? They would not have understood of the mumbo-jumbo! In fact, I doubt if Sonia understands it either!

The Congress was hell bent to win the trust vote, not because of strong ideological conviction that the deal is right for the country, but because facing the elections in the next 2-3 months would have been suicidal for them (what with the inflation heading northwards all the time).

Also it is clear that Sonia Gandhi has emerged as one of the most ruthless and clever politicians in India today. The way she managed to outmanouvre the combined might of the Left and BJP invites repect for her.

Sharad Pawar offers way out of nuclear deal impasse. But can anyone understand what he is saying?

"Govt should not thrust Indo-US N- deal on anyone: Pawar"- INDIAN EXPRESS

The UPA government should "not thrust" the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal on anyone if the Left failed to play ball as the country needs stability, Union Minister Sharad Pawar has said.

Yeah. And you want to continue sitting on the cushy ministerial chair.

The NCP supremo, whose party is a key constituent of Congress led coalition at the Centre, also said that he was embarrassed by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's suggestion that Pawar would make a good Prime Minister.

But very happy inside!

Asking the government to take a rational approach on the nuclear deal, he said, "We should try our level best to convince our colleagues, but if we are not in a position to convince... not getting total support... majority in Parliament, then we have to take a rational approach."

Meaning sit out the remaining term of the government. Hell with the nuclear deal.

Pawar, however, said that he would be happy if the nuclear deal goes through as it is an alternate method of generation of energy, which is the need of the hour and is also environment friendly.

Spoken like a lousy politico. Will the real Sharad Pawar stand up, please?

At the same time Pawar said, that the left parties which are opposing the deal are "honest to their thinking".

Yeah. They should not be hurt too. They have the numbers to let me sit in power till 2009. Kal kya hoga, kisko patta?

Pawar did not agree with the suggestion that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram has failed to deliver the goods. He suggested it was wrong to blame them as the government is not made of one or two parties and there are Left parties which have "some different thinking".

Can you figure out the meaning of that?

"I don't have the strength and numbers in Parliament. It is not the question of liking it or not. It is just not possible with 14 MPs."

But one can always dream.


Image credit- indiainfo.com