User talk:Shivanshbhotika

THE NUCLEAR DEAL – THE TRUTH BEHIND

The world will never be the same again. After courting each other for decades the two powers, i.e., India and United States, have finally decided to cross the landmark of no return. The nuclear agreement between India and United States will be one of the most redefining moments in international politics.

Rules? ...They are meant for the sustainance of the world order but here the rule in itself has become a hindrance. The joint statement released by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18 is the most dramatic textual manifestation of what Washington is attempting to do. Thus its quite evident that US is harnessing India's strategic weight for its own geopolitical aims before that power grows too immense or is harnessed by others like Europe or China.

There is no doubt in the proposition that President Bush's decision to sell nuclear technology and equipment to India will encourage other countries to go down the nuclear path. From a strategic perspective, one of the most puzzling aspects of the joint statement was the inclusion of a reiteration by India of its unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing without the U.S. making an explicit reciprocal commitment to abide by its own 1992 moratorium. The very real danger that stands at this pint of time is that the U.S. might go down the path of testing at some point in the future.

The development of deadly new nuclear weapons by the U.S. should be a matter of great concern to India for their eventual deployment will degrade the security environment in the world and Asia. Allowing India access to U.S. nuclear material and equipment would make New Delhi more likely to help further American strategic goals in the region. In all probabilities India is likely to be asked to let its Navy operate more frequently alongside the U.S. Navy in Asia. The purpose of these joint operations is essentially military and the U.S. wants India to also sign up for the Proliferation Security Initiative.

The deal signed in Washington raises a number of questions about the Manmohan Singh Government's policies in the field of nuclear energy, disarmament, `promotion of democracy,' energy security and strategic stability in Asia. No doubt the Government has answers. The Government owes it to the people to provide a detailed account of its nuclear policy in the form of a White Paper. Let the details of the Strobe Talbott-Jaswant Singh negotiations be made public. Let the Government place on record its estimate of how much the proposed separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities will cost and what the benefits of the agreement will be.

Ultimately the India – US Nuclear deal has to translate into economics, commerce, trade, development and FDI. If India sets up large size nuclear power plants, which is its intent in next fifteen years, India will import technology and hardware from US for at least half of these projects In short, orders worth $25-30 billion could be placed with the US in the upcoming years. Fund for these installations will come to India either in form of FDI or soft & commercial loans. Further expansion of business dealings on both sides will follow. An unspoken benefit for US appears to be their assessment that India could be a counter weight to a "rising China" in the region. There is an urgent need in India for capital to build its infrastructure and manufacturing base. And there is only one source to get it i.e. US & Europe. US and Europe at this moment are content with sending capital to China to supply them with consumer goods. This component together with auto-parts, pharmaceuticals and computer hardware could herald India into big leagues in ten years and beyond. Commercial Aircraft manufacture, ship building, factories to make giant power plants, steel making plants, mining & drilling hardware, petroleum & petrochemical plant building facilities could be ultimately shared with India. The latter within ten years will have a workforce sufficiently skilled to undertake all the foregoing. Opportunity of the KPO (Knowledge Process Off-shoring) is knocking at India's door. Indian graduates of Science and Engineering will play a major role in this expansion. In about 5 years KPO Off-shoring will grow immensely. India stands to benefit most from it. Thanks to the edge, Indian science & technology graduates have established. India will soon have the opportunity to say something, in world forums like UN, WTO and World monetary lending institutions, and be heard. But development time in India is too long and success factor is low. This has to be speeded up. The only way at India's disposal is buy its immediate needs and import technology to develop its own weapon system. It is a bit expensive up front but pays dividend later as India joins the select group of countries as a source of military hardware. Thanks to diplomatic and political skills of President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, we have a deal which could lift India into the Trillion-dollar club, faster. They both have worked hard. Ten years from now when electricity supply situation in India's households, industry and farms is significantly better, we have to thank them both. BUT is it not the self –interest of both nations that has replaced the initial verbal niceties? Even as the nuclear deal has hit a stalemate, Bush reportedly proposes to ask India and China to cut their greenhouse gas emissions at the G-8 summit. Well is it not the responsibility of India and United States to contribute towards the conservation of Earth? The current deal speaks volumes on this. They are prepared to put the Earth on the threshold of doom. Democracy- By the people, of the people and for the people. It’s time for us to get together and protest the deal for the well being of the world as a whole.

Shivansh Bhotika