Monday, October 06, 2008

INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL – KYA KHOYA, KYA PAYA?

Now that the Indo-US Nuclear Deal has been concluded, it is high time that we examine what we have gained and what we have lost.

So far as the plus side is concerned, we shall be able to access nuclear reactors, fuel and technology from NSG countries. It had been denied to us for the last 34 years. We shall now be able to enhance our supply of nuclear energy in the years to come.

We can also have the good feeling of being considered a nuclear power next only to USA, Russia, France, UK and China.

So far as the minus side is concerned, we have given up our age-old policy of non-alignment and allied ourselves with USA. This means that we are now part of the Cold War between US and EU on one side and China and Russia on the other.

Since we have not signed the NPT but have agreed not to conduct nuclear tests for fear of losing our right to engage in nuclear commerce with NSG countries, we shall not be able to influence rest of the world with our nuclear power. In other words, we have reduced ourselves to the status of an Impotent Nuclear Power.

The United Nations is an imperfect organization. It is governed by the United Nations Security Council, which consists of the Five Nuclear Powers who have the right to veto any resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly. The United Nations needs to be reformed or better still to be replaced by a more democratic and effective World Order. By subjecting ourselves to be inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is part of the United Nations, we have lost our moral right and capacity to reform the world organization or to replace it with a New World Order.

The cost of producing a unit of electricity through nuclear technology is more than the cost of producing electricity through traditional sources. If the rich countries of the world are sincere about alleviating poverty in developing countries of the world, it is logical that they should bear the burden of purchasing electricity at a higher cost rather than passing it on to the poorer countries. It will also help in reducing pollution in the most industrialized countries of the world.

Till now India and China were regarded as contenders for regional supremacy in the Asia-Pacific Region. With the signing of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal India has entered into strategic alliance with USA. Now the countries of Asia-Pacific Region will have to choose between China and USA for leadership. Most of the Muslim dominated countries of this region will find it difficult to side with USA on account of its war against terrorism. They would have loved to accept the leadership of India but would now go under Chinese influence. By aligning with USA India has lost the moral right to lead the countries of this region and denied them the chance of a third alternative.

The outcome of the Indo-US Deal can be compared with a glass being half-full or half-empty. Those countries or people who stand to gain through trade in nuclear reactors, raw material and technology will say that the glass is half-full and those who are unable to profit from this deal will say the glass is half-empty.

Only the future will tell whether the glass is half-full or almost empty.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

http://renjithmn.wordpress.com/category/current-affairs/a-camouflage-nuclear-deal/