Nuclear Deal

The Indo-US nuclear deal has come to a stage where both the parties plan to play a cat and mouse game. America wants a greater control on fuel supply while India strives to keep its sovereignty rigid.

To be pragmatic, India tends to gain more with such help. India balance itself from being pushed into a corner and there by restrict any third party influence on its nuclear domain as well as the foreign policy.

Ironically, the US Congress has passed the Hyde act by pushing its agenda through “cosmetic” changes than to seriously address the concerns in the joint agreement. The US congress has tossed a coin and does not care if the outcome is either heads or tails. One needs to remember it is the same US Congress that rejected NPT while they want India into a semi-NPT regime as a Non-weapons state.

I hope that the Indian Parliament pass a bill that protects our national interests on the nuclear knowhow. This will ensure that the future governments of India will not yield to the future residents of the white house.

The IAEA is a specialized agency that works under U.N. auspices. India wants to be a permanent member of the Security Council. In this context, will not reluctance to adhere IAEA principles to the fullest possible extent be contradictory?

The entire episode reminds me of the saying, "If you give a mouse a cookie he's gonna want a glass of milk". And it suits both the parties.