Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Nuclear deal

The concern expressed by our scientists on the Hyde U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act ("Don't concede right to tests: scientists," Dec. 16) is genuine. With one hostile and another powerful neighbour, India certainly cannot afford to surrender its right to conduct nuclear tests. The proposed deal, which will give the U.S. the right to inspect our atomic plants, is no doubt a substitute for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. One fails to understand the need for this humiliating deal that seeks to pledge our sovereignty and dignity.

T.S. Kalyanaraman,
Chennai

The Act contains provisions for pressuring India through periodic certification, scrutiny of facilities, and demands on its foreign policy. The possibility of their misuse by a hostile U.S. President or Congress cannot be ruled out. Worst of all, by sealing the deal, India will betray its promise to fight for global nuclear disarmament.

Farhan Jalal,
Hyderabad

I share the strong opposition M.R. Srinivasan has expressed in his article "India may lose control of its nuclear future" (Dec. 14) to India signing the deal. India must reject this disastrous deal and extend massive support to our young nuclear scientists to achieve our future energy targets. The Left should categorically, and expeditiously, decide whether the UPA Government should remain in office to sign the disastrous pact with the U.S.

B. Vivekanandan,
Thiruvananthapuram

India should not allow itself to be hoodwinked into signing such a lopsided deal. The Government should reject the deal and go ahead on its own, though the road will be difficult and long.

D. Lakshmana Rao,
Cupertino, California

If the deal is unacceptable to the scientific community, it should suggest ways to increase the country's nuclear power generation capacity without the support of the nuclear supplier nations. Saying we want help but we do not want any interference is like wanting to have the cake and eat it too.

V.M. Swaraj,
Chennai

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