Wise opponents

Three top-most nuclear scientists, P. K. Iyengar, A. Gopalakrishnan and A.N. Prasad...

8226;Three top-most nuclear scientists, P. K. Iyengar, A. Gopalakrishnan and A.N. Prasad, who once held key positions in India8217;s nuclear establishment, and were involved in the development of our strategic nuclear deterrent, have publicly ventilated 8220;a great deal of disquiet in the scientific community8221; over the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal 8216;Don8217;t push deal: scientists8217;,. When the issue has deeply divided the country, putting a question mark on the survival of the government, these scientists have rightly added their powerful voice against the deal. They have dismissed the argument of 8220;extra energy security8221; as we will have to pay 8220;almost thrice the unit capital cost of conventional power plants.8221; Moreover, the deal would impose 8220;the additional burden of subjugating the freedom to pursue a foreign policy and indigenous R038;D programme of our own8221;, the scientists emphasised.Coming from esteemed nuclear experts, shouldn8217;t such deep reservations be given serious consideration?

8212; M. Ratan

New Delhi

Communal card

8226;If Afzal Guru is executed our Muslims may get angry, feels our Union home minister. If the nuclear deal is signed our Muslims will get furious, warns the CPM. If we have closer ties with Israel that will alienate our Muslims, says another section of public men. Thus an impression is created that our Muslims are against anything done in national interest and they are all fundamentalists. Nothing can do greater harm to this community which has become a pawn in the hands of self-serving politicians.

8212; S. Rajagopalan

Chennai

Never a deal

8226; This refers to your editorials, 8216;Breaking free8217; and 8216;Deadline Hokkaido8217; Indecisiveness on the part of the UPA government even at such a late stage is unpardonable. It must speak out either way and must take a decision if it has to enjoy the respect of its own citizens and of the world. Action, more so if it is a right one, is always better than inaction. No voter with a sound mind will return an indecisive party to power.

8212; Rakesh Khullar

Chandigarh

Carbon footfalls

8226; India is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol. There is no way we can keep our economy moving without spreading out our energy sources. We should keep in mind that the fossil fuels that we now burn will spew out more carbon if we don8217;t switch to cleaner and sustainable fuels. We will end up paying heavily for polluting the environment.

8212; Jagmohan Rathi

Ghaziabad

Quota excess

8226; We are indeed a lawless land. The Gurjjar solution that has been worked out is patently against the Supreme Court directive that states that reservation beyond 50 per cent would be unconstitutional. Now the Rajasthan government has gone beyond the limit set by the apex court.

8212; A. Prasad

Ahmedabad