07-01-2008, 06:10 AM
Against Indo-US uclear Agreement
I am one of the Indian Americans who does not feel comfortable about the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement (I-W, June 6). The agreement vitiates the law of equity; it requires lots of commitment from India to do certain things or not do certain things. But in return, it has very little obligation on the U.S.
The agreement went through the U.S. Congress and as amended is now governed by the Hyde Act of 2006. Why is Manmohan Singhâs government hesitant to have the Indian parliament review the agreement and come up with its own solution, similar to the Hyde Act? If the Indian parliament says no, that it does not like the agreement, why cannot Manmohan Singh drop it? Also, Israel is much closer an ally of the U.S. Why is there no such similar agreement between the U.S. and Israel?
Forget the CPMâs opposition party in India. The communists are basically ruled by the principle, âwhatâs good for China is good for India.â One clause in the Hyde Act says that the âspent fuel is not transferred to the U.S.â Does it mean that the U.S. can in perpetuity send its nuclear waste to India for re-processing but then the waste cannot be sent back to the U.S.? Why? Where can India dispose of the highly radioactive nuclear waste? Remember, India is only one-third the size of the U.S. with three times the population.
We often hear that France uses nuclear power for 80 percent of its civilian needs. Does anyone know where and how does France dispose of its spent nuclear fuel? We Indians hold in reverence Mother Earth. She has given so much to us. Why do we want to contaminate it with nuclear waste, which can easily come in contact with ground water, one of lifeâs very essences?
V. Govindan
Roseville, Calif.
I am one of the Indian Americans who does not feel comfortable about the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement (I-W, June 6). The agreement vitiates the law of equity; it requires lots of commitment from India to do certain things or not do certain things. But in return, it has very little obligation on the U.S.
The agreement went through the U.S. Congress and as amended is now governed by the Hyde Act of 2006. Why is Manmohan Singhâs government hesitant to have the Indian parliament review the agreement and come up with its own solution, similar to the Hyde Act? If the Indian parliament says no, that it does not like the agreement, why cannot Manmohan Singh drop it? Also, Israel is much closer an ally of the U.S. Why is there no such similar agreement between the U.S. and Israel?
Forget the CPMâs opposition party in India. The communists are basically ruled by the principle, âwhatâs good for China is good for India.â One clause in the Hyde Act says that the âspent fuel is not transferred to the U.S.â Does it mean that the U.S. can in perpetuity send its nuclear waste to India for re-processing but then the waste cannot be sent back to the U.S.? Why? Where can India dispose of the highly radioactive nuclear waste? Remember, India is only one-third the size of the U.S. with three times the population.
We often hear that France uses nuclear power for 80 percent of its civilian needs. Does anyone know where and how does France dispose of its spent nuclear fuel? We Indians hold in reverence Mother Earth. She has given so much to us. Why do we want to contaminate it with nuclear waste, which can easily come in contact with ground water, one of lifeâs very essences?
V. Govindan
Roseville, Calif.