The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unfair

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unfair

Just because India voted against Iran does not mean we have lost a friend. To judge our foreign policy as being "pro-U.S." on the basis of one incident is not fair. Whatever we do should serve our interest rather than that of any other country.

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

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There have been several articles attacking the Government for backing the U.S. against Iran. However, I feel it is a bold step taken by India, recognising its needs according to their priority.

Prahlad Krishnamurthi,
Chennai

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What one understands from the support extended by India to the U.S. on the Iran nuclear issue in the International Atomic Energy Agency is that a country cannot be sold but its policies can be mortgaged.

Soundara Subramanian,
Paramakudi, T.N.

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It is time India started basing its foreign policy decisions on realpolitik. The vote against Iran is a step in the right direction.

Jubin Pandey,
Mumbai

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It is clear that Iran is more interested in its nuclear weapons programme rather than a civilian energy project. An Iran with nuclear weapons is not in our interest.

The Indian Government achieved the right balance after it became clear that sitting on the fence was no longer an option.

Pranav Sachdeva,
New Delhi

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Indo-Iran friendship has always been an illusion. There is minimal natural synergy between the countries, and Iran is never going to give any discounted oil and gas to India. Just as we have our energy needs, the Iranian economy needs the cash that oil and gas bring. The Manmohan Singh Government took a brave decision.

Ashok Rajamani,
Hillsboro, Oregon

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In the given scenario, New Delhi did the right thing in going with the current, even if it means endorsing indirectly the new imperialist strategy that "if you are not with us, you are against us."

R. Venkatesan,
Hyderabad

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By signing a civilian nuclear deal with the U.S. and thereafter voting against Iran, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made the required mid-course correction in our foreign policy.

Post-USSR, the true meaning of non-alignment is not to identify oneself with any particular group of nations but to be truly aligned to one's national interest.

Arun K. Doshi,
Mumbai

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Its vote against Iran shows that India cannot ignore the international order maintained by the U.S. in view of the situation in the subcontinent.

A. Yeshuratnam,
Thiruvananthapuram

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