The Congress has dug in its heels on the nuclear deal and said the Government would go to the IAEA board to seek its approval for the India-specific safeguards agreement regardless of the Left's objections. It is mere an election issue for the Left which is opposing India clinching a civil nuclear deal, which will take care of our energy need in long-term planning. Moreover, it is a broad agreement whereby India will enter into agreement not only with the US but also Russia and France. Thus, the opposition to the nuclear deal has more to do with ideological predilections of the Left.
Recently Russia and the US signed an unprecedented civilian nuclear power deal under which companies in both countries would have access to nuclear technology through joint ventures. The signing of this agreement opens a gigantic field of opportunities for economic cooperation in the large and growing businesses linked to the civilian use of nuclear energy. The US has a similar deal with China. To meet its increasing energy needs. China has signed uranium deals with Australia and the Niger. India too must complete the nuclear deal with the US agreed upon in 2005.
The nuclear deal would give the growing economy reliable and uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel, in spite of the fact that India is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nuclear freedom comes from collaboration, not isolation. The completion of the civilian nuclear deal will open to India the world of sophisticated technology developed by the global nuclear powers-the US, Japan, Europe and Russia, with whom India has growing commercial relations. Access to high-end technology is imperative to keep India globally competitive.
Indian diplomacy has succeeded in mulling and overcoming strong anti-India prejudice and opposition in the US. By making India an exception to the rule it has created opportunities for the country. The agreement will let India grow and play its rightful fore in global affairs-it is about having faith in India to develop rapidly without compromising fundamental freedoms. Besides, an economically dynamic India on a perpetual growth curve will make Asia more economically dynamic.
Apart from removing hurdles in India’s search for an alternative energy source to fuel its growing economy, the deal will give India a strategic platform in the knowledge industry and encourage research and development in clean-energy technology. Becoming a great knowledge power is everyone's dream in India. India must go beyond information technology outsourcing and capture other chances, as it has begun to do. In the course of time when trust in the partnership increases and diplomatic relations deepen, a whole new world of sophisticated global technology will be opened to India, enabling it to spur its economic growth further. In return, India has agreed to do what other nuclear powers have been doing under the Non-Proliferation Treaty-open some of its civilian nuclear power plants to inspection and continue to observe abstinence on nuclear testing. Its nuclear deterrent will remain off limits. India’s sovereignty can’t be compromised, if the country is economically and politically strong.