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Parliament must support the PM
By H.K. Dua

The Prime Minister is to make a statement in Parliament today on his recent visit to Washington, which indeed brought about a qualitative change in relations with the United States. People’s reaction to the outcome of the visit in the country has been warm. Hopefully, Parliament will not grudge Dr Manmohan Singh the support he is entitled to after what he has achieved in talks with President George W. Bush, notwithstanding the noises of the BJP as well as the communists.

India has gained a lot from the Prime Minister’s visit. It has virtually run out of nuclear fuel needed for the Tarapore and a few other nuclear power plants. No member of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group is prepared to give India the nuclear fuel because of the US restrictions on it after the 1998 nuclear blasts at Pokharan. With oil prices soaring to astronomical heights and limited thermal and hydroelectric resources, India has no choice but to develop nuclear energy. This requires the import of nuclear fuel which India can now get from the United States, or from a third country, possibly Russia.

India will also get access to high technology for nuclear, space and many other sensitive projects which were held up. Essentially, the restriction that were clamped on the flow of the nuclear fuel and dual-technology items are now sought to be lifted.

The lifting of these restrictions means that India no longer remains trapped in a state of nuclear apartheid the US and others in the Nuclear Haves had pushed India into after the nuclear blasts at Pokharan in 1998. The Pokharan blasts gave India its deterrent against nuclear adventurist who might choose to take liberties with India’s security.

The Nuclear Haves, however, refused to recognise India as a nuclear weapons state despite our assurances that it does not believe in passing on nuclear material or knowhow to any other country and that it will never be the first-user of its nuclear bomb.

The significance of Dr Manmohan Singh’s US visit and lifting of the restrictions is that the US has now virtually recognised India as a nuclear weapons state. And if the US, which was the source of the sanctions, has come to believe India’s assurances of a responsible conduct of its nuclear arsenal, the other members’ acceptance of India’s nuclear credentials can be assumed. It is not just sitting at the table that is important; the right to do so is important which is implied in the joint statement the Prime Minister issued along with President Bush.

There are no free lunches anywhere, certainly not in the world of international diplomacy. The quid pro quo principle guides most bilateral dealings. On its part, India has assured the world it will continue its moratorium on nuclear tests. Also it will never pass on nuclear knowhow or weapons to any other country. This is not a new demand on India. India has always followed its policy of non-proliferation – even if it had not signed NPT.

Actually, India was not being trusted earlier; it is being trusted as a responsible nuclear state now.

It is a pity that what should be welcomed by all political parties is being criticised by the BJP from the opposition benches, and the Left parties which are backing the Manmohan Singh government. They ought to believe the Prime Minister’s categorical assurance that under the Washington arrangement, India’s rights and obligations are the same as those of any nuclear power; and also that Indian interests have been taken care of.

The Left’s criticism can be ideological and extension of old thinking which is not taking into account the changed world situation and India’s future needs as oil, technology and investment. The Left perhaps fears that India is getting sucked into the American ambit. Nothing of the kind. The Indo-US statement does not take away from India its right to take its own decisions.

The BJP has attacked the joint statement on the ground that it will lead to the separation of civil and military nuclear facilities, and which in turn will place constraints on India’s nuclear arsenal. The BJP’s presumption is incorrect. It is the Indian authorities that will carry out the separation of the civil nuclear facilities from the military nuclear facilities and not any outside authorities. Also, only civil nuclear authorities will be subject to international safeguards. There is nothing in the Washington arrangement that tends to deny India its autonomy of action or brings its nuclear weaponry under international scrutiny.

Dr Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington has certainly brought the two countries closer. For years they had looked at each other with varying degrees of distrust. It is for the good of both of them and the world if they have now begun to trust each other and be friends. The US is certainly a super power, but India should have the confidence in itself to engage with it, advancing its national interest and finding a better place for itself in the 21st century world.