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NSG waiver a big boost for India

I read H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial “India’s hour” (Sept 8). Mr Dua has been following up the nuclear deal issue with a clear vision and has succeeded at last. India has now been recognised as a global power to carry out nuclear commerce with the 45-member NSG.

After Pokhran I and II, the mighty powers denied India the right to acquire enriched uranium, equipment and access to technology badly needed for major power aspirations. The endeavour of our Prime Minister who won a vote of confidence on the issue in the Lok Sabha, made India part of the global nuclear mainstream. The 123 agreement is a huge step for the Indo-US ties. India now can buy reactors and fuel from the NSG members.

From the Vienna experience, there appears to be a tussle between the US and China for gaining supremacy in the South Asian region. We must back the country’s interest at any cost.

JAGTAR SINGH ANANDPURI, Mohali

II

I agree with Mr Dua’s opinion that India has become an essential part of the architecture of global power. The nuclear apartheid was a disgrace to a nation of 1.3 billion people. It not only denied the status of a nuclear weapon state but also the right to acquire the enriched uranium equipment and hi-tech that was the urgent need of the hour.

Secondly, it is nice to hear that neither the waiver nor the 123 agreement debars India from retaining the nuclear weapon. In addition, India will continue to have the right to develop more nuclear weapons keeping in view its security needs. Thirdly, the NSG has by consensus waived its ban on the export of nuclear fuel and technology and thereby India will achieve greater glory in the world.

Finally, China tried to block the waiver and lobbied hard with smaller powers despite its assurance to the contrary. The CPM is doing the same job and blowing the trumpet of China, compromising the national interest.

Capt S.K. DATTA, Abohar

III

After India attained Independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made friendship with China. However, the latter never reciprocated the gesture of the former. India sacrificed 1860 soldiers and a vast area in the 1962 Chinese aggression. There was no single casualty on the other side. This friendship proved very expensive and humiliating.

At Vienna, Beijing also played a negative role against India. After President Hu Jintao’s promise to support the deal in Vienna, China not only tried to block the waiver but also lobbied with some countries to oppose the pro-India waiver. Clearly, China cannot see India’s progress.

AJIT SINGH GILL, Kharar

IV

The NSG waiver became possible due to the Prime Minister’s perseverance at home and abroad. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Special Envoy Shyam Saran, AEC Chairman Anil Kakodkar also played a pivotal role.

India will now be able to import nuclear fuel and technology from the NSG. This will ensure the running of our reactors to full capacity, overcoming the acute energy shortage to considerable extent. India should now undertake the construction of ultra-modern high-tech reactors at suitable places to meet the increasing energy demand.

The Punjab government, which unfortunately opposed the nuclear deal due to political compulsions, should now press for one such reactor in Punjab instead of going in for thermal plants whose operational cost is very high and are highly polluting. Furthermore, the availability of coal would always remain a problem. Hence, a nuclear reactor is Punjab’s need of the hour.

D. K. AGGARWALA, Hoshiarpur

V

While reading Mr Dua’s editorial, I was reminded of the famous poet Arthur Hugh Clough’s lines:

Say not, the struggle nought availeth,

The labour and wounds are vain.

The enemy faints not, nor faileth,

And as things have been, they remain.

It is the triumph of our nation, after the Pokhran test. The international community tried to bring us under pressure to curb our nuclear development programme. But we remained firm on our principles.

This is just the beginning. China once again deceived us and it was our fault to expect support from such countries which had betrayed us in past.

BALJEET SINGH MEHBOOB, Anandpur Sahib

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