The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Right perspective

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 11, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Right perspective

The editorial, `Going beyond separation' (March 10), has analysed the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal in the proper perspective, taking into account the country's energy and security needs as also the clandestine nuclear arms race in South Asia. Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar's description of the agreement as "a good practical step forward" justifies India's stand in clinching the deal.

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

The nuclear deal is certainly a breakthrough for meeting the country's fast growing energy needs.

Srinivas Goparaju,
San Antonio, Texas

The suggestion in the editorial that there should not too much interference from the U.S. as far as civilian nuclear energy inspection is concerned should be taken in the right spirit by the inspecting nations.

Kothandaraman Panchapagesan,
Ridgewood, New Jersey

The editorial has demystified the theory of minimum credible nuclear deterrence advocated by the Indian state with its in-depth analysis of the danger posed by a nuclear state to peace and stability in the world.

M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan, T.N.

The editorial's reasoning that nuclear weaponisation is the ultimate means of genocide is irrefutable but then India was the seventh country to turn nuclear. In fact, it was left with no choice. The only option left today is to campaign for global nuclear disarmament.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan,
Thiruvananthapuram

I was shocked to read your view that "nuclear weaponisation in May 1998 (picking up from Pokhran-I of May 1974) was a huge, strategic mistake." Notwithstanding the sanctions imposed since 1998, let us not forget that but for the bi-partisan pursuit of this strategy the U.S. would not have even come to the negotiating table to help us meet our civilian nuclear energy need in 2006.

Chandrasekar K.,
Chennai

Though Mr. Kakodkar has said the agreement is a win-win situation for both India and the U.S., a close study will reveal that it is more advantageous to India.

K.V. Ratnam,
Guntur, A.P.

Regardless of what happens in the U.S. Congress, the key to the stability of the nuclear agreement is the ability to say, "Thus far, no further." It is perhaps all right with the 65:35 division of existing facilities, but what of those likely to be built in the future? What if their status is contested by the IAEA, even as an innocuous difference of opinion?

Devraj Sambasivan,
Alappuzha, Kerala

Now India can look forward to a high level of cooperation and access to high-end technology in the field of civilian nuclear energy. More importantly, the deal has taken care of most of the concerns raised by our scientific community and defence experts.

Abhishek Mishra,
New Delhi

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail