It's that time of the week, when I start going blue and start cursing the monotony in life. But life can hardly be boring when "The great Indian laughter show" (read politics) provides so much entertainment.
Where do I start? Well..let's start with the mother of all controversies! The Nuclear deal between India and US.
Maybe it's because of my ignorance in the subject, but the deal sounded pretty good to me when I heard it the first time. "Under the agreement, India is to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs over the next eight years in order to gain U.S. expertise and nuclear fuel to meet its rapidly rising energy needs. India's civilian facilities would be subject for the first time to permanent international inspections. The pact also does not require oversight of India's prototype fast-breeder reactors, which can produce significant amounts of super-grade plutonium when fully operating."
The agreement clearly mentions the separation of the civilian and military nuclear programs. i.e. India doesn't have to open its military nuclear reactors for international (US) inspection. So what is the problem??
With the sky rocketing oil and fuel prices, one would think that nuclear energy and research is the way to go. But not the politicians and the political parties in our country.
Some of their oppositions are as below.
1) The main opposition party BJP criticized the deal saying that it compromised India's nuclear weapons program, despite the fact that they had started negotiations on the agreement when in power (wikipedia). They didn't bother to say how it compromised the nuclear weapons program!! Nor did they say a viable alternative to India's energy crisis. But hell, the leaders can't be wrong. They always speak with the best intentions for the future of our country, don't they??
2) The communist parties, which are not a part of the government but support it externally in the Indian Parliament, threatened to withdraw their support over the issue. They cited what they described as the imperialist policies of the US as their primary reason of opposition(wikipedia) . They cited what??
One second - we are in 2008 right? Or are we in the marxist/maoist era, an era in which the communist idealogues still seem to be living in?
They also feel that India should be self-sufficient rather than depending on others. Wow - now that's what we call self confidence, isn't it? Shove an agreement which will open India to the civilain Nuclear technolgy of the US. Shove the supply of nuclear fuel. We will manage on our own. Ha ha ..Screw you America!!!!
In November 2007, former Indian Military chiefs, bureaucrats and scientists drafted a letter to Members of Parliament expressing their support for the deal. Please do read a copy of it here, dear friends. Ill paste an extract
"The key questions are: can we do better without the agreement, or, can we get a better one?
The answer to the second question is surely no. The agreement has given us as much as it has because of a most particular combination of circumstances which can hardly come again. To the contrary, there are forces at work internationally that will only complicate our position — eg. the growing pressure for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, or the growing potential of American opponents of the agreement.
As for holding out for something better, we must examine dispassionately the two main charges against the present deal: that it binds us not to test, and that it ‘caps’ our nuclear arsenal. It is perhaps not sufficiently realised that even under the Non-Proliferation Treaty — from which we are being exempted — a state can opt out and conduct a test if it feels that is vital to its security, provided it is prepared to face the consequences. Nothing in the Indo-US agreement prevents us from doing likewise. Rights are not bestowed by others: they are what one is capable of exercising. The fear that the agreement negates our sovereign right to test is to overlook our sovereign right to abrogate. The real issue is facing the consequences, which is entirely a matter, not of laws and agreements, but of our self-confidence."
And well, the people who signed it?
Marshal of the Air Force Arjun Singh, former Chief of Air Force
Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra, former Chief of Air Force
General V N Sharma, former Chief of Army Staff
General V P Malik, former Chief of Army Staff
Admiral Ram Tehliani, former Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral Madhvendra Singh, former Chief of Naval Staff
Dr M R Srinivasan, former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission
Dr Kasturirangan, former Chairman of Space Commission
But hey come on, the politicians must know better! Because as I said, the politicans think in the best interest of the country :-)
3) The primary opposition to the Nuclear deal in India, however, comes from the Communist Part of India (Marxist), whose core ideology has rested on a platform of Anti - Imperialism and Anti- Americanism. Their opposition has also been said to stem from their alleged support for Chinese Communist hegemony in the region (wikipedia).
Wow - what a brilliant reason to oppose a treaty which might be able to solve the energy crisis in our energy starved nation!!
As a desperate last minute effort, Congress has seeked the support of SP to avoid calling for an early elections (which they will be forced to, if the SP does not support and the left withdraws support). But what does SP do? make the best use of the opportunity.
Remember when we were children and when we caught our brothers/sisters and friends doing something wrong or punishable, us saying "I will tell mummy/daddy"?? And to avoid the consequences of 'mummy/daddy' coming to know, them yielding to our most atrocious demands? Well the SP is showing the same maturity level in its current dealing with the congress!! (read this)
"As the party readies itself for the rescue act, there are clear indications that it may demand changes in the portfolios of finance minister P Chidambaram and petroleum minister Murli Deora, as well as the scalps of RBI governor Y V Reddy and India’s ambassador to the US Ronen Sen. As reported by TOI earlier, it will also demand that the Women’s Reservation Bill be shelved."
But why God, why??? What reason would they have for putting forth these requests when all congress asked was their support to pass a great agreement!!
Well, "SP general secretary Amar Singh had led an intense campaign against the finance minister for being on the board of the Vedanta group. Also, Chidambaram earned the ire of SP leaders Amar Singh as well Mulayam Singh Yadav when the income tax department showed keen interest in the tax details of their friend, actor Amitabh Bachchan."
See, the parties and politicians think in the best interest of the country and their countrymen!!
Even if a man with such impeccable integrity as our PM plead to the public for support of the deal, it doesn't matter. Our well learned politicians know better.
Even if the most respected/loved president of India endorses the deal, it doesn't matter. India shouldn't yield to the foreign powers!
Ha, I'm tired laughing! there's too much comedy on the show now a days. That sometimes I think Ill die laughing!
In my state (Kerala), parties are burning class VII textbooks due to some objectionable content in these textbooks. Apparently the ruling party(communists) are promoting atheism among the students who are at a very impressionable age. Thank God. Because of the opposing parties who are the guardians of non-violence and religious values, we will now have students who are morally and religiously impeccable. Forget the fact that these children will later be recruited by the student wings of these parties, to damage public properties in the name of protest. Forget the fact that these students will be taught the basics of corruption and goondaism by these very same parties. As of now, all that matters is that the seventh standard children know that God exists. Maybe in the toilets of these political parties!! Doesn't matter. He exists!!
Overheard: Mohanlal and Jackie Chan will act together in a Japanese film titled Nair San. That makes my week! :-D
Where do I start? Well..let's start with the mother of all controversies! The Nuclear deal between India and US.
Maybe it's because of my ignorance in the subject, but the deal sounded pretty good to me when I heard it the first time. "Under the agreement, India is to separate its civilian and military nuclear programs over the next eight years in order to gain U.S. expertise and nuclear fuel to meet its rapidly rising energy needs. India's civilian facilities would be subject for the first time to permanent international inspections. The pact also does not require oversight of India's prototype fast-breeder reactors, which can produce significant amounts of super-grade plutonium when fully operating."
The agreement clearly mentions the separation of the civilian and military nuclear programs. i.e. India doesn't have to open its military nuclear reactors for international (US) inspection. So what is the problem??
With the sky rocketing oil and fuel prices, one would think that nuclear energy and research is the way to go. But not the politicians and the political parties in our country.
Some of their oppositions are as below.
1) The main opposition party BJP criticized the deal saying that it compromised India's nuclear weapons program, despite the fact that they had started negotiations on the agreement when in power (wikipedia). They didn't bother to say how it compromised the nuclear weapons program!! Nor did they say a viable alternative to India's energy crisis. But hell, the leaders can't be wrong. They always speak with the best intentions for the future of our country, don't they??
2) The communist parties, which are not a part of the government but support it externally in the Indian Parliament, threatened to withdraw their support over the issue. They cited what they described as the imperialist policies of the US as their primary reason of opposition(wikipedia) . They cited what??
One second - we are in 2008 right? Or are we in the marxist/maoist era, an era in which the communist idealogues still seem to be living in?
They also feel that India should be self-sufficient rather than depending on others. Wow - now that's what we call self confidence, isn't it? Shove an agreement which will open India to the civilain Nuclear technolgy of the US. Shove the supply of nuclear fuel. We will manage on our own. Ha ha ..Screw you America!!!!
In November 2007, former Indian Military chiefs, bureaucrats and scientists drafted a letter to Members of Parliament expressing their support for the deal. Please do read a copy of it here, dear friends. Ill paste an extract
"The key questions are: can we do better without the agreement, or, can we get a better one?
The answer to the second question is surely no. The agreement has given us as much as it has because of a most particular combination of circumstances which can hardly come again. To the contrary, there are forces at work internationally that will only complicate our position — eg. the growing pressure for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, or the growing potential of American opponents of the agreement.
As for holding out for something better, we must examine dispassionately the two main charges against the present deal: that it binds us not to test, and that it ‘caps’ our nuclear arsenal. It is perhaps not sufficiently realised that even under the Non-Proliferation Treaty — from which we are being exempted — a state can opt out and conduct a test if it feels that is vital to its security, provided it is prepared to face the consequences. Nothing in the Indo-US agreement prevents us from doing likewise. Rights are not bestowed by others: they are what one is capable of exercising. The fear that the agreement negates our sovereign right to test is to overlook our sovereign right to abrogate. The real issue is facing the consequences, which is entirely a matter, not of laws and agreements, but of our self-confidence."
And well, the people who signed it?
Marshal of the Air Force Arjun Singh, former Chief of Air Force
Air Chief Marshal O P Mehra, former Chief of Air Force
General V N Sharma, former Chief of Army Staff
General V P Malik, former Chief of Army Staff
Admiral Ram Tehliani, former Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral Madhvendra Singh, former Chief of Naval Staff
Dr M R Srinivasan, former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission
Dr Kasturirangan, former Chairman of Space Commission
But hey come on, the politicians must know better! Because as I said, the politicans think in the best interest of the country :-)
3) The primary opposition to the Nuclear deal in India, however, comes from the Communist Part of India (Marxist), whose core ideology has rested on a platform of Anti - Imperialism and Anti- Americanism. Their opposition has also been said to stem from their alleged support for Chinese Communist hegemony in the region (wikipedia).
Wow - what a brilliant reason to oppose a treaty which might be able to solve the energy crisis in our energy starved nation!!
As a desperate last minute effort, Congress has seeked the support of SP to avoid calling for an early elections (which they will be forced to, if the SP does not support and the left withdraws support). But what does SP do? make the best use of the opportunity.
Remember when we were children and when we caught our brothers/sisters and friends doing something wrong or punishable, us saying "I will tell mummy/daddy"?? And to avoid the consequences of 'mummy/daddy' coming to know, them yielding to our most atrocious demands? Well the SP is showing the same maturity level in its current dealing with the congress!! (read this)
"As the party readies itself for the rescue act, there are clear indications that it may demand changes in the portfolios of finance minister P Chidambaram and petroleum minister Murli Deora, as well as the scalps of RBI governor Y V Reddy and India’s ambassador to the US Ronen Sen. As reported by TOI earlier, it will also demand that the Women’s Reservation Bill be shelved."
But why God, why??? What reason would they have for putting forth these requests when all congress asked was their support to pass a great agreement!!
Well, "SP general secretary Amar Singh had led an intense campaign against the finance minister for being on the board of the Vedanta group. Also, Chidambaram earned the ire of SP leaders Amar Singh as well Mulayam Singh Yadav when the income tax department showed keen interest in the tax details of their friend, actor Amitabh Bachchan."
See, the parties and politicians think in the best interest of the country and their countrymen!!
Even if a man with such impeccable integrity as our PM plead to the public for support of the deal, it doesn't matter. Our well learned politicians know better.
Even if the most respected/loved president of India endorses the deal, it doesn't matter. India shouldn't yield to the foreign powers!
Ha, I'm tired laughing! there's too much comedy on the show now a days. That sometimes I think Ill die laughing!
In my state (Kerala), parties are burning class VII textbooks due to some objectionable content in these textbooks. Apparently the ruling party(communists) are promoting atheism among the students who are at a very impressionable age. Thank God. Because of the opposing parties who are the guardians of non-violence and religious values, we will now have students who are morally and religiously impeccable. Forget the fact that these children will later be recruited by the student wings of these parties, to damage public properties in the name of protest. Forget the fact that these students will be taught the basics of corruption and goondaism by these very same parties. As of now, all that matters is that the seventh standard children know that God exists. Maybe in the toilets of these political parties!! Doesn't matter. He exists!!
Overheard: Mohanlal and Jackie Chan will act together in a Japanese film titled Nair San. That makes my week! :-D
10 comments:
Layman,
http://www.nairsan.com
It was there in news a couple of months back.
Suggest following
varnachitram.com
@nikhil -:D ha ha ..guess I was the last one to know. Wonder how come my crazy "mohanlal fans association" friends didn't tell me :-). Thanks for the link man..
Hey!
Interesting read.
I am almost sure about the sincerity of our dear PM who is endorsing the deal. As far as the opposition is considered i have nothing to comment.
I really wonder , is there hope?
@ anonymous - I think there is..At least if you believe SP's claims of support!!
Will know for sure after the LS sessions on July 20th & 21st as the government will not proceed with a minority vote on the deal!
Hi
So...
India sends the safeguard agreement to IAEA without winning the trust vote.
Th Govt withholds the text saying the agreement is privelleged, as against the IAEA's statement that it did not withhold India from circulating the text.
Did you read today's Hindu.page 12 Editorial 'Better shore up domestic uranium resources'.
It say 'A temporary shortage has arisen(uranium) because of a supply-demand mismatch.Why resort to imports through an undesirable deal.'it also says that 'the shortage.no doubt,is serious.But this crunch is essentially a consequence of the inadequate funding...while the potential was always there, the investments in mining and exploration were nowhere commensurate with that.."
they have presented everything with facts and numbers.
The Hindu Editorial deplores the act of the Govt of sending the draft to Board of governors IAEA.
what do you think..I wud like to know your comments...
@ anonymous - U could have said "Congress sends the safeguard agreement....." instead of India...cos Congress has not yet passed the trust vote test :-)
I too read the newspapers today morning. From what I understood it merely looked like Manmohan Singh has set the ball rolling to expedite the completion of the deal. Surely, this was unexpected as Congress had promised to proceed only after it obtained the trust vote in the Lok Sabha. But considering our PM's strong affinity for the deal one can't blame him for not having the patience to wait till then. He is walking on a tight deadline and there are people who say that even if the deal reaches the US congress for approval, it wouldn't have "enough legislative days to give its approval for the agreement."
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/US_plays_time_running_out_tune_again/articleshow/3212777.cms
Now I'm not sure what enough legislative days means in US congress terms, but if it means very less time in your hands to set the ball rolling, one can't really blame the PM for not waiting. Of course, we all know the numbers game in the parliament. It may tilt this side or that side, but the fact that the Congress has to wait till July 18th and the fact that it would put more pressure on the already stringent deadline must have prompted the UPA to set the ball rolling.
Also the PM has promised that the deal would stand cancelled if it is not able to obtain the trust vote in the LS.
Now coming to your question.
"The Govt withholds the text saying the agreement is privelleged, as against the IAEA's statement that it did not withhold India from circulating the text."
That is a major blow to governments claims. I really do not understand why the text had to be withheld when it was under no obligation to do so. I also don't understand why the government had to lie about it. That sure creates some bad impression.
I was more concerned by something I read in the front page of today's TOI. The deal mentions that India is only liable to open its civilian reactors for safeguards agreement. But the draft prepared by IAEA clearly does not mention this.
Reading this together with the government's false claim that the IAEA stipulated it not to circulate the text sure creates some suspicion.
Is India's military reactors also under the scanner??
If it is, I take back my words and my post. That would be like cheating the people of this country.
To comment comprehensively on your questions, I need to grasp the situations completely. Expect a comment from me in the coming days.
I don't think much of the Hindu editorial deploring the government's actions. Previous experiences have taught me that even the most prestigious newpapers could me made a tool for propaganda by the influential politicians. I just read facts and figures and decide for myself.
Right now I'm unclear on some facts like the one I mentioned above (regarding the civilian and military reactors separation mentioned in the deal not being mentioned in the IAEA draft)
I have also not read the article regarding the Uranium crunch and India's self sufficiency. Will get back to you
@anonymous - read the editorial of TOI, 12th July, 2008.
MOre specifically this
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Its_In_Our_Favour/articleshow/3224772.cms
An excerpt:
1) First, the government was reluctant to publish the text prematurely not because it had anything in the agreement to hide from its people, but because it did not want to show it off and provoke the non-proliferation ayatollahs in the United States to mount a campaign against it.
2) The draft is yet to be approved by the IAEA board, but if it emerges unscathed, even with a vote on it, much of the criticism that the inspections would tie India down in perpetuity to intrusive scrutiny of our indigenous facilities should disappear.
Significantly, the agreement is material-specific rather than reactor-specific. The purpose of the inspections is stated to be "to guard against withdrawal of safeguarded material from civilian use".
In other words, regardless of the separation plan, India and the IAEA can jointly determine, on the basis of a 1973 document of the board of governors, that a particular facility had ceased to be of relevance to the objectives of the inspections.
Once the imported fuel is removed, the eight Indian Pressurised Heavy Water reactors would be off the inspections list.
What is more, the annex to the agreement, which should list the facilities for inspection, has been left blank with a column to indicate the dates on which the facilities concerned were notified by India for inspection.
The list in the separation plan, which was subject to controversy in India, has not been included in the annex. The date when the agreement comes into force as well as the listing of the facilities have been left entirely to India's sovereign decision, a point that was stressed in the joint statement, but subsequently diluted by the Americans
Agreed, these are opinions. I'm just presenting a counter view which might actually be true
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Rhea :)
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