INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL

The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and US President George Bush announced the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement in Washington on July, 2005. Apparently, the deal has created a lot of discussions, apprehensions and concerns among the public in general and people connected with Indian nuclear establishments, in particular. There has been considerable media coverage for the deal. Here, the typical titles appeared in news papers are given to show the progress, date-wise, for the benefit of everybody. The titles are self explanatory and hence details are not given.

1. India, US to start make or break N-talks – as American poll nears, officials say current session is last attempt, 16/7/2007
2. India, US likely to seal nuclear deal today, 20/7/2007
3. All (Nu) clear – India, US break logjam to finalize the nuke deal after 2 yrs of talks, 22/7/2007
4. Indian Cabinet clears N-deal – But Left is yet to say the landmark nuclear accord with the US is right, 26/7/2007
5. Congressmen oppose N-concessions to India, Pakistan tests N-capable missile: Australia moves closer to selling uranium to India, 27/7/2007.
6. BJP okay with nuclear deal : But seeks clarity on India retaining its right to test – BJP delegation meeting with the PM, 27/7/2007
7. Nuke deal is done – The Indo-US nuclear cooperation deal will allow India access to US nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years, 28/7/2007
8. Three nuclear questions – Why it might be too early to celebrate the Indo-US nuclear deal, 28/7/2007
9. N-deal better than expected, says Narayanan
10. N-deal (operating agreement) a historic milestone, to work on safeguards agreement, says Rice
11. 123 pact silent on N-test fallout – Pranab, Rice announce deal completion, fuel supply assurances worked out to India’s satisfaction, 29/7/2007
12. Between the lines of N-deal (123 agreement): No more tests, but India guaranteed fuel supply?, 29/7/2007
13. Aussies offer to back N-deal, sell uranium – Canberra decision on exporting nuclear fuel soon, 01/8/2007
14. US & India ride on – nuclear deal is a platform for a vibrant partnership.
15. US plans special NSG (45 members) meet to push India deal; BJP seeks House panel into nuclear deal. India’s status as a weapon state? 05/8/2007.
16. Left waves red flag at Indo-US 123 N-pact; Govt. ready for N-debate, 08/8/2007
17. N-deal is right, PM tells Left. The PM says the 123 agreement has been approved by the cabinet and there is no question of going back on it, 09/8/2007.
18. US hangs on to defense bar. India can’t acquire civilian items with military uses despite nuclear deal.
19. China had nothing to do with N-deal opposition – CPM (Communist Party of India) clarifies, 08/9/2007
20. Left Units divided on withdrawing support. Reluctance to risk a midterm Lok Sabha poll at this stage.
21. Let history be the judge, says PM, 14/8/2007
22. N-deal will be off if India tests: US, 16/8/2007
23. No bar on N-test, US tacitly admits, 18/8/2007
24. Honeymoon’s up, marriage limps on. Left front set to endorse CPI’s tough stand. N-deal will be PM’s swansong: Chinese media, 18/8/2007
25. George calls PM a traitor for signing the Indo-US nuclear deal,18/8/2007
26. Indo-US deal does not prohibit N-tests, says Kakodkar, Chairman, AEC, 18/8/2007
27. Left puts Govt on notice, polls loom,19/8/2007.
28. N-deal failure may hit Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Sons.
29. Left, UPA pause for breadth, Govt to set up panel to study Hyde Act, Calling off deal will isolate India, 20/8/2007.
30. No world for India if nuke deal is dumped. Diplomacy, strategy, economy: The nation stands to lose, 20/8/2007
31. Sino-Pak N-talks to counter India, 20/8/2007
32. CPM threat to withdraw support to UPA government to get nod from the Party’s Central Committee. Red bastions upset with Left on N-deal, 23/8/2007.
33. China undecided about policy on India’s NSG entry, 24/8/2007.
34. CPM’s suddenly soft on the PM, 24/8/2007.
35. Govt. won’t float a Hyde Act in India, 27/8/2007
36. Government refuses to put IAEA talks on hold, 28/8/2007.
37. Experts back PM’s conviction on pact. BARC scientists issue appeal for support; 123 debate likely to be delayed further; Government quotes energy study push nuke deal, 29/8/2007.
38. 123 –pause, govt blinks, Indo-US nuke deal put on hold till a committee formed to go into the left’s objections submits its findings, 31/8/2007.
39. No safeguards talks at IAEA meet: CPM leader Yechury, 03/9/2007
40. Parliamentary debate on nuke deal looks unlikely, 05/9/2007.
41. Cabinet mulls N-act changes. Move to strengthen regulatory & safety measures in reprocessing; Govt. advances N-deal debate, House debate nuke deal today, 06/9/2007.
42. N-Panel device to save govt.; Foreign Minister defends the UPA-Left panel.
43. China had nothing to do with N-deal opposition, CPM clarifies stance in weekly meeting against slander, 08/9/2007.
44. Left digs in its heels on N-deal, 11/9/2007.
45. Govt hints at polls ahead of schedule, Left submits note on N-pact to govt, 15/9/2007.

India could sustain its nuclear program so far without any major setback using uranium fuel cycle. In fact, the country is the achiever in the hi-tech thorium fuel cycle, on its own. So, with or without N-deal there is a bright future for the nuclear power in Indian power mix.