| Done Deal |
Where there is a will there is way. The old adage was once again proved right when India and the United States of America entered into a bi-lateral agreement for nuclear commerce.
It took more than three years and hundreds of hours of diplomatic efforts, political negotiation at the highest of levels, international posturing by both US and India, coaxing friends and pressurizing the nay-sayers, maintaining credibility at home before a vitriolic ally, assuring the nation and the world at large that the deal was good for everybody and surviving a trust vote that saw one of the worst mud-slinging ever seen in Indian politics.
It was one roller-coaster of a ride, almost theatrical. It swung between done and doomed. Even as Manmohan Singh fought and ducked heightened coalition pressure on taking the next step after signing the dotted line, IAEA proved the first international hurdle and gave broad hints of friends and foes and fence-sitters.
Countries like Australia, Switzerland, Baltic States, Pakistan and China expressed their dissatisfaction in various degrees. While some wanted India to become a signatory to NPT and CTBT, some plainly didn’t want the deal- lest more countries (read: Pakistan) were included in the nuclear umbrella.
While this happened, Left parties felt betrayed and pulled the plug. What followed, was nothing less than a spectacle: new allies were found in former enemies, horse-trading was an open secret, and the BJP alleged bribery- it turned up with wads of cash in the Well of the House-, kicking-up one of the worst political rows ever. But, having the numbers, UPA sailed through the Vote.
At the Nuclear Suppliers Group- the campaign against the deal was out in the open. Countries like Austria, New Zealand, Norway and Ireland with hardly any great amount of economic clout, diplomatic sway or political or military influence began to hold up the deal. China took a last moment step that shocked the supporters of Sino-India camaraderie. It walked out of a meeting supporting anti-deal amendments and pressed for the case of Pakistan. It was reported, that the Chinese leadership received a call, reportedly, from President Bush before they relented and the deal came through.
After that, there was jubilation in India as everybody knew the US Congress would pass the deal without any changes. But the roadblocks continued as India’s dilly-dallying had left little time with the US Congress to clear it – presidential electioneering being in full swing. But the Bush administration came to the rescue again and put the deal on top of the agenda.
The pact will provide India with access to US nuclear fuel, reactors and technology, overturning a ban on such trade instituted after India first conducted a nuclear test in 1974. The India-US deal could open up around $27 billion in investment in 18 to 20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, apart from ending India’s isolation on the global nuclear stage. India is the only country in the world which is not a signatory to any prohibitory deal and yet can conduct nuclear commerce with any country in the world.
123 of Nuclear Deal »
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