New Delhi,There were many in India who believed that the role of political parties and the Government has been reduced considerably to the extent that it will no more have a major impact on the nation's progress as the process of liberalization has changed the way the country functioned. But recent controversy on the implementation of Indo-U.S deal for use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes will probably make people think and revise their opinion as negative politics pursued on the issue of the deal can certainly create major hurdles if not check the country's progress in a substantial manner.

It is true that nuclear energy at present forms only a small part in the field of energy, its contribution being limited to three per cent of the total. But the issue has to be addressed in terms of future needs. If the current hike in prices of petroleum continues and global warming makes the issue of checking environment pollution a major concern, the scenario can change. The present cost calculations will become irrelevant and a nation faced with shortage of energy will have no choice but to look for alternative sources of power that is solar and nuclear two sources of power which are neglected at present because of high initial cost.

In a scenario where people are thinking about running cars with hydrogen or electricity by building new generation cars, field of nuclear energy can not be neglected or given a back seat. It is true that if the UPA Government had not bungled on the issue of nuclear deal by projecting it as U.S centric. The deal would not have evoked the kind of adverse reaction that greeted it. But now the opponents of the deal are making the same mistake by looking at it from partisan angel instead of listening to voices of sanity seeking approval of the deal.

The advocacy of deal by former President Abdul J. Kalam and latest by Russian Ambassador in India should open the eyes of these critics who have refused to move from there fixed positions on the deal. There can be no two opinions that India needs energy and it will have to use all means to end the current shortage of power as without energy there are no prospects of the country continuing to grow not only at present pace but to achieve a double digit growth to become a major economic power'

Recent developments clearly show that the Left parties have a closed mind on the subject and are not prepared to listen to any argument or reason even from friendly countries like Russia or independent minds like former President Dr Abdul Kalam. Under the circumstances the UPA leaders will have to seriously consider how far they should allow the national interest to be compromised because the Left leaders have decided to oppose the deal irrespective of its fall out or its impact on country's future.

As for present the time is fast running out and we may just make it if we decide to move immediately without any further loss of time. It is strange that leaders of all major countries like Russia, France, U.K and USA are commending the deal but our own political parties who earlier were opposed to India making nuclear weapons are now worried why we are giving up the right to test these weapons in future. The Left parties are even not scared that such thinking is putting them in the company of few selected countries who are opposed to India becoming a major economic power or a country with muscle. If the UPA leaders are in any doubt about the national mood on this subject they should pick up this issue as a single point agenda and go for a fresh poll. The country may be unhappy with UPA Government is performance, but on the issue of nuclear deal it can beat the combined opposition from right with parties like BJP and Left a combination of Communist parties by a huge margin.

If anyone should be worried it should be BJP which is aware of India's middle class being unhappy with them for opposing the deal which was initiated by them when they were in power or the Left which may be branded as anti-national for being more concerned about the Chinese sensibilities instead of taking care of Indian interest. Agreed that the country is suffering from the impact of high rate of inflation pushed by oil prices and world-wide shortages of food grains, but if the impression goes around that the UPA Government can be easily bullied by its allies, its fortunes will shrink at a much faster rate.

The BJP has gained much by projecting the UPA Government as a soft Government which is unable to tackle threats emanating from terrorism and economic problems created by international trends. In case it compromises even on safeguarding national interest under threat by Left, it will have no future. The Governments which can succumb to pressures will not carry conviction with people and will fall in any case. So trying to seek some extra time by making compromises with the Left, it will make the task of BJP easier. One can not help but suggest it would be much better to go down fighting instead of being branded as a coward.

Source - NPA

EMAIL THIS NEWS COMMENTS No comments yet