The Constitution of India, like those of other democracies in the world, recognizes the freedom of speech and expression as a fundamental right. Although there is no specific provision in the Indian Constitution guaranteeing the freedom of press, it is taken to be included within the ambit of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed under Article 19(1) (a). Freedom of expression means not only the freedom to express one's own views but also the views of others. This is one of the many tragedies the Indo-US civil nuclear deal has suffered. Politicians of all hue and variety have picked up the presumed negative aspects of the 123 Agreement, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was negotiating with the US for similar cooperation. There is no point in elucidating the communist verbiage against the deal. The 123 Agreement opens many foreign policy options for India, which has been ignored both by media as well as political parties opposed to 123 Agreement.

Every nation is an area; beyond its borders lays other countries. If they were wilderness, there would be no need for a policy towards them. But countries have governments and people which are friendly or unfriendly towards us. It is difficult to see us achieving an uncontaminated, friendly relationship with Pakistan; Pakistan would have to commit suicide if we ceased to be its enemy. That is one unavoidable reason why we would need a foreign policy. It might not be important if only Pakistan were involved, for its economy is only a seventh the size of ours. The Chinese economy is twice as large as ours. The Chinese are at least as capable technologically as we are, and given their much larger economy, they can muster far more economic and military strength. They are also incomparably better than us in producing material goods.

The economy of Russia beyond the Urals has become dependent on Chinese trade and investment. Russia is no longer capable of independent action against, let alone military confrontation with, China. So it floated the idea of a trilateral alliance between China, India and itself. Eventually India kept or was kept out of it, and it became a group of China with Russia and its Central Asian satellites. Japan, the only other large economy in Asia, has invested massively in China-so much so that its manufacturing output in China probably exceeds its domestic output by now.

George W. Bush has revived the idea of the US as a global power ending the nuclear pariah status of India. For China sees it as economic growth is making it increasingly dependent on the rest of the world and It does not have the strength to subdue the world, so it befriends everyone-some more than others, but otherwise without discrimination. May be the Leftists think that it would be possible for India and China to be friends but before they can be friends, China would have to stop helping Pakistan and in general, to stop interfering in the Indian Ocean area, and making false claims on Indian territories, which may have wider repercussions with potential to destabilize Sino Indian relations. The 123 Agreement will offer India elbow room to re-assess its foreign policy options.