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Journalism of Courage
The External Affairs Minister is confident that a national consensus on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is taking shape. If so, this is a positive development. It is very encouraging to hear Jaswant Singh say there is greater quot;parliamentary acceptance of altered ground realityquot; especially when discussions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the winter session gave a different impression.
Rhetoric about quot;nuclear apartheidquot; and quot;surrenderquot; to the US was to be expected from MPs who see the issue through an ideological prism. But it was disconcerting to find senior Opposition leaders like Inder Kumar Gujral of the Janata Dal and the Congress8217; Shivraj Patil are still unwilling to come out clearly in favour of the treaty. Evidently many doubts and questions remain. With nine months to go for the deadline for signature, the government will have to redouble its efforts to clear them and bring the Opposition on board.
These are India8217;s concerns as well. Let there be no doubt that international agreements which prevent the spread of WMD are in this country8217;s vital interests. Take the political rhetoric and mantras out of the CTBT debate and get down to the real issues. If sceptical MPs are not satisfied with the government8217;s word that India has a viable nuclear option, let them listen to what nuclear scientists have said.
Putting economic development at the head of the country8217;s priorities should also help put the nuclear question into a better perspective. Poverty and the huge gap in educationaland health entitlements are doing more to sap the country8217;s strength than any other single factor. India will take its rightful place among the powerful nations of the world when it raises itself out of the bottom of the human development index.
The External Affairs Minister is right to emphasise that improved economic relations should be the focus of a quot;forward-lookingquot; foreign policy in the new year. The promotion of economic growth calls for total commitment from all branches of the government. It means pragmatism in foreign policy above all else. There is no scope here for triangular or quadrilateral strategic partnerships. These are foolish diversions from the real business in hand.
Such political arrangements will bring comfort only to those who think in balance-of-power terms. On the ground they will retard the development of economic ties which are essential for investment, trade and technology transfers. Associations like SAARC which help improve relations in the region and further trade withinand outside the region can, of course, be useful. The driving force in every case should be economic not imagined countervailing forces.
