The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Nuclear deal “deserves” support

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Friday, Feb 22, 2008
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Nuclear deal “deserves” support

Special Correspondent

Venkatapathy says it does not compromise on autonomy of strategic nuclear programme

— Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

SHARING A POINT: Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A.P. Shah (centre) with Minister for State for Law and Justice K .Venkatapathy at a function in Chennai. Madras High Court Judge Prabha Sridevan is in the picture.

CHENNAI: The government has entered into the civilian nuclear deal with the U.S. without compromising on the autonomy of India’s strategic nuclear programme or the development of the country’s indigenous capabilities, Minister of State for Law and Justice K. Venkatapathy said on Thursday.

Delivering a lecture on ‘India’s Nuclear Deal,’ organised here by the Madras High Court and members of the Madras Bar to commemorate the 60th year of Independence, he said the agreement was historical as it allowed India to procure nuclear fuel and technology from other countries even while remaining non-signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“If the deal does not materialise, we get nothing. But, if we get it through, the benefits outweigh the cost by a large margin. Therefore, on balance, I think the deal deserves our support,” Mr. Venkatapathy said.

Pointing out that Indian scientists had overwhelmingly endorsed the deal despite some initial apprehensions, he said the Left parties opposed the deal because they were ideologically opposed to the U.S.

“Their opposition is not to the provisions of the agreement per se, but to the general direction of our recent foreign policy initiatives. They are not so much concerned about the text of the agreement; rather they are concerned about the context of it.”

“This agreement will enable India to acquire civilian nuclear technology and fuel supplies besides access to the dual-use technologies,” he said. India must focus on faster economic development and equitable distribution of opportunities, wealth and resources to every citizen.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court A.P. Shah, who presided, said the talk by Mr. Venkatapathy was the fifth in the lecture series, and it would go a long way in understanding the politically sensitive Indo-U.S. 123 agreement.

M. Ravindran, senior advocate and convener, introduced the Minister. V.T. Gopalan, Additional Solicitor-General, thanked Mr. Venkatapathy for agreeing to educate the members of the Madras Bar and advocates on the sensitive topic.

R.C. Paul Kanakaraj, president of the Madras High Court Advocates Association, said the lecture was not only topical and politically sensitive but also educative.

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