Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

The nuclear deal

Statements such as the one made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the AICC meet on the nuclear deal with the U.S. — that it will not hurt India’s strategic programme — give rise to scepticism. The government’s failure to sign with its long-standing nuclear partner Russia agreements for four additional 1000 MWe nuclear reactors for the Koodankulam power plant has left little doubt in our minds about the horrendous impact of the 123 agreement on our decision-making.

B. Jayanna Krupakar,

Karnataka

Getting closer to the U.S. will only make us lose the goodwill of countries with which we have enjoyed warm ties for years. The government should come out with a white paper on foreign policy and get Parliament’s approval before embarking on any adventure. The nation’s destiny cannot be decided by a minority government.

S.S. Rajagopalan,

Chennai

Nothing short of a debate in Parliament on all aspects of the deal, including adequate safeguards for India, will clear the air. But given that any decision will be taken at the political level outside Parliament, it will be prudent for the UPA and the Left to come to a broad agreement at the earliest.

K.V. Rajasekhar,

Neyveli

Earlier, the Prime Minister signed the nuclear deal without having a debate in Parliament. Now he has come back from Russia without signing an agreement for additional reactors, again without seeking Parliament’s opinion. His pro-West policies have already cost us the goodwill of Islamic nations. All that we have achieved so far is — becoming friendless.

P.K. Parameswaran,

Chennai

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