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A hard bargain

As pointed out in the editorial "A hard bargain" (March 3), the acceptance of the Indian `red lines' by the U.S. was made possible only by the energetic debate that has taken place in India for over seven months. The role of The Hindu and the Left parties in highlighting the dangers of giving in to U.S. dictates, particularly the possible imposition of safeguards on the fast breeder programme, is significant.

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

Manmohan Singh and George W. Bush deserve praise for their outstanding statesmanship and courage in striking the historical civilian nuclear deal that will go a long way in addressing India's increasing energy demands.

M. Mohan Raja,
Hyderabad

The deal proves that we have argued our case well. It looks like the U.S. is beginning to accept that India is a super economic power in the making.

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

Exempting the fast breeder reactors from international monitoring seems to be the greatest breakthrough in the deal.

S.M. Sundarajan,
Kollam, Kerala

The deal was a hard deed easily done thanks to the accommodative spirit of the U.S. and its special gesture towards India. It is also a great victory for our mature and excellent diplomacy.

C.A.C. Murugappan,
Kothamangalam, T.N.

It is obvious that both sides were eagerly looking forward to sealing the deal during Mr. Bush's visit. Now that the issue has been settled, other important areas of potential cooperation should be explored. It is time the U.S. talked tough with Pakistan on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure on its soil.

N. Sivaraman,
Maraimalainagar, T.N.

The deal is perhaps the first step in setting India up as a possible Asian counterbalance to the growing military and economic power of China and the nuclear capabilities of Pakistan. It may also lead the country to a military build-up, which will bleed it of vital resources needed for building agricultural and industrial infrastructure.

K. Vijayakumar,
Bangalore

Whether the axe falls on the foot or the foot hits the axe, it is the foot that gets hurt. That is the situation in which India has placed itself by agreeing to throw open its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspection. The U.N., the Security Council, the IAEA are all pocket dictionaries of the U.S. It knows how to manipulate each organisation to suit its interests.

Col. (retd.) Ram Gulrajani,
Chennai

Dr. Singh has carved a niche for himself by clinching the deal without giving up our sovereign right to possess nuclear military installations free of IAEA inspections. He has also shifted the pressure on Mr. Bush.

James Terance Sekar,
Pondicherry

Now that the deal has been signed, we must progress in our commitment to ensure that our terms are fully met and inspections conducted in a desired framework. For a nation on a course to becoming self-reliant in energy resources, the deal will facilitate growth. Credit goes to Dr. Singh for clinching the deal on our terms.

Lt. Col. (retd.) R.V.S. Mani,
Madurai, T.N.

Edmund Burke said: "... A statesman differs from a professor at a university. The latter has only the general view of society; the former, the statesman, has a number of circumstances to combine with those general ideas, and to take into his consideration. Circumstances are infinite, and infinitely combined; are variable and transient; he who does not take them into consideration is not erroneous but stark mad — he is metaphysically mad."

The nuclear deal should be seen in view of the absence of a countervailing superpower, the existence of nuclear weapon states such as China and Pakistan, and an energy crisis. All other factors are irrelevant.

A.T. Thiruvengadam,
Chennai

The nuclear deal is a bold step that India has taken recognising all the risks involved. The opposition by the Left is understandable given the policies of the Bush administration. But there is a basic contradiction between aspiring to be an economic giant and attempting to do this without engaging in strategic partnerships with existing economic giants. We need to evaluate the deal in the light of India's own developmental concerns.

Vasundhara Sirnate,
Berkeley, California

It is time narrow-minded jingoists shed their unfounded inhibitions and supported the Manmohan-Bush dialogues, which have the potential of heralding a glorious chapter in India's march to becoming a world power.

Mayank Kedia,
Bangalore

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