In view of political uncertainty, intransigent Leftists, an unfavourable opposition and strident criticism from certain international quarters, not many people gave the Indo-US nuclear deal much of a chance. But a display of resolute approach by the Prime Minister during the confidence vote at Lok Sabha and his astute diplomacy at Vienna ensured that India’s ostracism from the international nuclear club and a concomitant failure to harness nuclear energy for civilian use (due to sanctions imposed after 1974) came to an end. There have been strong reactions after the signing of the deal. In terming this agreement as a ‘sell out’ of the country’s interest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is only living up to the image of a ‘typical opposition’. Their criticism doesn’t cut much ice, because the ground work on this deal was done during the time of the NDA government. As for the Left, one need not be highly discerning to guess that their ‘dagger-drawn’ approach stems from their inveterate dislike of the United States, rather than any cogent reservations about the deal itself. The true endorsement has come from India’s top scientists, technologists, economists and diplomats who have given their unequivocal approval to this agreement. Their enthusiasm stems from the anticipation that the deal will facilitate the full use of the latent potential of high-tech sunrise industries, like IT pharma and biotech, as well as strategically important sectors like defence, space and power. Considering that the scope for gains is immense, the discomfort of traditional rivals like China and Pakistan over this deal is understandable. Whether the nuclear deal will snowball into a vital issue in the forthcoming state assembly and Lok Sabha elections remains to be seen, but it is imperative that the ruling UPA government explains in clear terms as to what extent the accord has the potential of changing the lives of the Indians. The people of the country need to be told that after decades of isolation, India is now permitted to carry out nuclear trade and commerce in the global arena.The bogeys of the NPT and the CTBT have been dropped. India has abided by the ‘no first-use principle’ and has all along emphasised that the use of nuclear power will be purely for civil and economic purposes.Apprehensions that the country’s security concerns have been compromised with are unsubstantiated. The deal clearly specifies that if the geo-political situation worsens to such an extent, that it is strategically important for India to conduct a test, it is entitled to do so.There would be no sanctions in that case. Even if sanctions are imposed, there is nothing to be paranoid about. India had, anyways, faced sanctions after the 1974 and 1998 nuclear tests. There is no reason why, in the compelling interest of national security, we cannot bear it again. That, however, is a remote situation and it is not appropriate that irrelevant fears about a hypothetical situation should deprive us of the immense gains that India stands to make at present.
