Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Say `no'

The response from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to the arrogant U.S. demand that India should "back off Syria oil deal" (Jan. 28) should be a blunt "no" — which would have been the instantaneous reaction from Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The U.S. is now making such a demand obviously because it believes that Dr. Singh does not have the guts to do that. He should, therefore, make it clear beyond doubt that he would not submit to such bullying. In this, he could count upon the support of not merely the Left but also the Right parties because what is at stake is India's prestige. Latin America is already setting an example by snapping its fingers at the U.S. and there is no reason why India should also not do that. During my visit to Argentina way back in the 1970s, I met a large number of Argentinians who were all praise for India for its having stood up to the U.S. and wished that the rulers of their own country could do that.

Even during the Cold War with the erstwhile Soviet Union, the U.S. made no secret of its intentions to emerge as the new imperialist power to take the place of Britain. Among the blandishments it held out after its disappointment with India's policy of non-alignment was the dazzling military aid it was giving to Pakistan. The late Aneurin Bevan, left-wing British Labour leader, appealed to Pakistan not to become a camp follower of the U.S., which, he said, was the "meretricious siren of the West."

C.V. Gopalakrishnan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Rather than feeling pained at the second successive American fatwa, I am happy. It has made the decision on the Iran vote easy. If this is the timbre of the language the U.S. uses when we are miles away from inking the nuclear deal, I shudder to think of that which is in store.

M. Arun Thejaswi,
Palakkad, Kerala

* * *

Yesterday it was Iran, today it is Syria. India should tell the U.S. to mind its own business. Washington cannot expect New Delhi to chase its nuclear carrot for too long.

C.G. Senthilkumar,
Davis, California

* * *

We do not need nuclear technology at the cost of our sovereignty and independent foreign policy. If the India-U.S. nuclear deal collapses, we should face the challenge and develop our indigenous technology to achieve energy security.

Prabhakar Singh,
New Delhi

* * *

Ambassador David Mulford's fulsome mixture of flattery and threats shows the ugly American desperation to get India's support in a possible strike against Iran. The Bush administration's excuse that Mr. Mulford was expressing his personal opinion has now been followed by the more open, official fatwa against India's proposed purchase of the Syrian oilfield. The messages being sent out by the global strongman have to be countered with a dignified refusal to place at risk Indian sovereignty and India's stake in maintaining peace in the entire region.

Vasantha Surya,
Chennai

* * *

It is an open secret that India was pressured into voting against Iran in September. Mr. Mulford's "personal opinion" proves this. If the Government allows itself to be bullied into submission again, it will lose credibility in the eyes of all Indians.

Poorvi Hattikudur,
Chennai

* * *

The American envoy's comments have exposed the nuclear deal. In the name of energy security, India was first made to tone down the Iran gas pipeline project and then vote against Iran. The deal is a complete sell-out, putting national interests in jeopardy to keep Uncle Sam smiling.

Harish Pandey,
Allahabad, U.P.

* * *

Is India, with 58 years of independent foreign policy under its belt, so timid as to succumb to the diktats of America when tiny Latin American countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia are boldly voicing their protest against U.S. policies? The Left parties have a moral obligation to ensure that the Government does not do what it did in September last to Iran.

B. Ramakrishnayya,
Bangalore

* * *

It is time the leaders at the helm showed some spine and told the Americans to mind their language when dealing with the largest democracy in the world. They should state in no uncertain terms that no amount of browbeating and arm-twisting can devastate India. India is what it is today in spite of years of sanctions.

C. Murali,
Tirupati, A.P.

* * *

Mr. Mulford's remarks reveal the true agenda behind the proposed nuclear deal. More important is the extent to which our own Government has stumbled along with the hidden agenda.

Ritwik Chauhan,
Bangalore

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