07-02-2008, 06:00 AM
Nuclear deal
Prime Minister Manmohan Singhâs obduracy on the India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement is condemnable. At a time when the country is reeling under the burden of runaway inflation, he appears hell-bent on concluding a deal that is inconsequential to the aam aadmi. His reiteration of his governmentâs commitment to the deal defies his own assertion a few months ago that the UPA is not a one-issue government. The hurry is unwarranted especially when there is no consensus even among the scientific community, let alone political leaders.
B. Jayanna Krupakar,
Surathkal
* * *
The editorial âShort-sighted adventurismâ (July 1) exposes the UPA governmentâs hypocrisy. It seems to be more committed to the U.S. than India. If the Congress acts in a manner that is against the spirit of the CMP, the Left cannot be blamed for withdrawing support to the UPA government led by it.
Ikbal Hussain Ahmed,
New Delhi
* * *
The Prime Ministerâs request for authority to proceed with the process of negotiations with the IAEA and the NSG, after which he says he will place the deal before Parliament, is like putting the cart before the horse. In all fairness, a major issue such as the deal â on which the government is facing stiff opposition â should be brought before Parliament first. Further steps should be based on what a majority in Parliament feels.
T.A. Rajagopalan,
Chennai
* * *
When the people are suffering due to the unprecedented price burden and the nation is in the midst of a financial crisis, it is extremely unfortunate that the UPA government is planning to go ahead with the controversial nuclear deal. Heavens will not fall if the negotiations with the IAEA and the NSG are postponed. The Prime Ministerâs adamant stance is unreasonable and incomprehensible. There is no doubt that his action is short-sighted political adventurism.
V.K. Sathyavan Nair,
Kottayam
* * *
The Congressâ act of moving closer to the Samajwadi Party shows how opportunistic it is. As leader of the minority UPA government, it could not solve the basic issues of the common man. But it is in a desperate hurry to sign the nuclear deal without taking its allies and supporting parties into confidence.
S. Sundaresh,
Bangalore
* * *
Both the government and the Left parties must now take a step backwards and re-engage in a constructive spirit to clear the current confusion. The government needs to address the perception that the deal involves an unstated American expectation of a closer alignment of Indiaâs foreign policy objectives with U.S. interests. The Left parties should recognise the perils of looking at all things American through an ideological lens.
Ramakrishna Bantu,
Hyderabad
* * *
By asking that he be allowed to proceed with the negotiations, Dr. Singh has virtually demanded a blank cheque from the Left parties, going back on his own commitment to the UPA-Left coordination committee. How can a party that claims to be gearing up for the elections and has suffered a series of electoral setbacks in recent times be so blind to the writing on the wall?
P.K. Parameswaran,
Chennai
* * *
It is not understood why Dr. Singh is so particular in signing the nuclear deal with the U.S., even at the cost of his government. If he feels the deal is good for the country, he should convince not only his supporting parties but also the main opposition party before entering into negotiations with the IAEA.
P.L.N. Rao,
Hyderabad
* * *
Dr. Singh perhaps feels his assurances and promises should convince the people. But democracy does not work like that. The will of the people should prevail. The government should hold a referendum on the issue to get the opinion of the people.
Subramanian Venkataraman,
Mumbai
* * *
The stalemate over the nuclear deal is unfortunate. The UPA government should go ahead and conclude it without wasting time. While the Left partiesâ opposition to the deal on ideological basis is understandable, the argument that the deal is against the national interests is unacceptable. Even the main opposition BJP-led NDA favours the deal in principle but opposes it on grounds of political expediency.
D.S. Naidu,
Visakhapatnam
* * *
Energy, no doubt, is very important. But we cannot hand over our sovereignty to the U.S. by signing the deal without a political consensus. The government cannot mortgage our independence to the U.S.
Senthil Vedaiyan,
Vallam
Prime Minister Manmohan Singhâs obduracy on the India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement is condemnable. At a time when the country is reeling under the burden of runaway inflation, he appears hell-bent on concluding a deal that is inconsequential to the aam aadmi. His reiteration of his governmentâs commitment to the deal defies his own assertion a few months ago that the UPA is not a one-issue government. The hurry is unwarranted especially when there is no consensus even among the scientific community, let alone political leaders.
B. Jayanna Krupakar,
Surathkal
* * *
The editorial âShort-sighted adventurismâ (July 1) exposes the UPA governmentâs hypocrisy. It seems to be more committed to the U.S. than India. If the Congress acts in a manner that is against the spirit of the CMP, the Left cannot be blamed for withdrawing support to the UPA government led by it.
Ikbal Hussain Ahmed,
New Delhi
* * *
The Prime Ministerâs request for authority to proceed with the process of negotiations with the IAEA and the NSG, after which he says he will place the deal before Parliament, is like putting the cart before the horse. In all fairness, a major issue such as the deal â on which the government is facing stiff opposition â should be brought before Parliament first. Further steps should be based on what a majority in Parliament feels.
T.A. Rajagopalan,
Chennai
* * *
When the people are suffering due to the unprecedented price burden and the nation is in the midst of a financial crisis, it is extremely unfortunate that the UPA government is planning to go ahead with the controversial nuclear deal. Heavens will not fall if the negotiations with the IAEA and the NSG are postponed. The Prime Ministerâs adamant stance is unreasonable and incomprehensible. There is no doubt that his action is short-sighted political adventurism.
V.K. Sathyavan Nair,
Kottayam
* * *
The Congressâ act of moving closer to the Samajwadi Party shows how opportunistic it is. As leader of the minority UPA government, it could not solve the basic issues of the common man. But it is in a desperate hurry to sign the nuclear deal without taking its allies and supporting parties into confidence.
S. Sundaresh,
Bangalore
* * *
Both the government and the Left parties must now take a step backwards and re-engage in a constructive spirit to clear the current confusion. The government needs to address the perception that the deal involves an unstated American expectation of a closer alignment of Indiaâs foreign policy objectives with U.S. interests. The Left parties should recognise the perils of looking at all things American through an ideological lens.
Ramakrishna Bantu,
Hyderabad
* * *
By asking that he be allowed to proceed with the negotiations, Dr. Singh has virtually demanded a blank cheque from the Left parties, going back on his own commitment to the UPA-Left coordination committee. How can a party that claims to be gearing up for the elections and has suffered a series of electoral setbacks in recent times be so blind to the writing on the wall?
P.K. Parameswaran,
Chennai
* * *
It is not understood why Dr. Singh is so particular in signing the nuclear deal with the U.S., even at the cost of his government. If he feels the deal is good for the country, he should convince not only his supporting parties but also the main opposition party before entering into negotiations with the IAEA.
P.L.N. Rao,
Hyderabad
* * *
Dr. Singh perhaps feels his assurances and promises should convince the people. But democracy does not work like that. The will of the people should prevail. The government should hold a referendum on the issue to get the opinion of the people.
Subramanian Venkataraman,
Mumbai
* * *
The stalemate over the nuclear deal is unfortunate. The UPA government should go ahead and conclude it without wasting time. While the Left partiesâ opposition to the deal on ideological basis is understandable, the argument that the deal is against the national interests is unacceptable. Even the main opposition BJP-led NDA favours the deal in principle but opposes it on grounds of political expediency.
D.S. Naidu,
Visakhapatnam
* * *
Energy, no doubt, is very important. But we cannot hand over our sovereignty to the U.S. by signing the deal without a political consensus. The government cannot mortgage our independence to the U.S.
Senthil Vedaiyan,
Vallam