Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Nuclear deal

After Election 2004, the United Progressive Alliance formed a government on the basis of a Common Minimum Programme. And it was agreed that the Congress would not impose its will on its coalition partners and supporting parties. But on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the Congress stand is against the spirit of the CMP. The Left parties are right in saying they will withdraw support. They extended support to the government from outside without enjoying the fruits of governance. This speaks volumes about their genuineness.

Gazanfar Mirza,

Nagpur

The Left parties have all along been staunch supporters of the UPA government. It will be unfair if the Congress does not give them their due respect just because it has new friends today.

N.A.M. Usuf Ali,

Thanjavur

I have been an ardent supporter and great admirer of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since 1991, but only till recently. I wonder why he is tenaciously pursuing the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. Even after years, nuclear energy will account for less than 10 per cent of electricity generation. Instead, the government can improve the electricity grid to bring down transmission losses. I am not against the deal but entering into it should not pose an obstacle to any of our endeavours.

A dispassionate, unbiased assessment will show that the immediate priority is to materialise the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline. One day we will be able to draw the rich natural gas from the Central Asian region too through this route.

P. Radhakrishnan,

Kochi

The stage-managed theatrics of Mulayam Singh-Amar Singh duo in approaching former President Abdul Kalam for knowing his well-known views on the nuclear deal is comical, to say the least. Do they consider the people so naive as not to look through their backroom deals?

Kasim Sait,

Chennai

It was heartening to read that Mr. Kalam has supported the nuclear deal. Let us hope all parties will come together to support the deal which will enable India to achieve self-reliance in energy.

P.V. Sriram,

Chennai

A well-timed intervention by V.R. Krishna Iyer (“A bizarre nuclear deal pursuit,” July 4) succinctly brought out the various consequences of the nuclear deal for India and its people. He is right in saying that priority should be accorded to other more important issues which are suffocating us today. The people expect the Prime Minister to make all aspects of the deal public. By remaining silent, he is aggravating the issue.

C.K. Rahul,

Hyderabad

When the U.S., Europe and a whole lot of developed and developing nations are pursuing extensive research in renewable and bio-fuel technologies, our Prime Minister is bent on linking India’s future to the U.S. Justice Iyer rightly warns of “radiation and other thanatological-technological” hazards of nuclear energy.

Rajendra Prasad,

Roorkee

Justice Iyer’s article reflects the thinking of the common man. The galloping inflation notwithstanding, the government is pursuing a deal that will in no way benefit the poor but will, instead, undermine our sovereignty.

The suggestion that the government draw up a Defence of India Code is revolutionary. I entirely agree with Justice Iyer that cricket scores, beauty contests and reality shows are not the priorities.

Viraj Deshpande,

New Delhi

The steps suggested by Justice Iyer for curbing wasteful expenditure are bizarre. As a student of economics, I believe our future lies in capitalism. It has been proven the world over, and India can be no exception.

We are a strong nation and a deal cannot weigh down 1.1 billion people. Dr. Singh is surely more qualified to judge the pros and cons of the nuclear deal. Let us have faith in him and let history be the judge.

Nagesh Vakil,

Chandigarh

If all factories, hotels and other establishments are closed down and services limited, who will feed the lakhs of young men and women who will become unemployed overnight?

In this age of rising crude oil prices, there is no viable and cost-effective alternative to nuclear power.

Ahamed Firsel,

Coimbatore

Though I do not agree fully with Justice Iyer, I am touched by his appeal to the Prime Minister.

D. Darwin Albert Raj,

Kalpakkam

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