Press Statement issued by
Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, MP & BJP National Spokesperson
on US Senate approval of the Nuclear Deal

The unambiguous and conclusive remarks by the US Secretary of State Ms Condoleezza Rice that any nuclear test by India will have serious consequences including the automatic termination of all cooperation coupled with imposition of numerous sanctions, clearly vindicates the BJP stand that India has abrogated all its rights to conduct any nuclear test forever. The extraordinary commitment made to the US Senate reiterates that the US President could waive all cooperation if India were to conduct a nuclear test or that which would prejudice the NPT objective certainly deserves an answer from the Prime Minister and his team who have been vociferously boasting the deal.

The publicised virtues of the deal are non existent. The US has given no binding fuel – supply assurance to India contrary to what the PM had told the Parliament. Neither is there any US consent to India’s stockpiling of lifetime fuel reserves for power reactors which was assured in case of disruption of fuel supply. The US civil nuclear cooperation is explicitly conditioned to India not testing ever again. The American side has made it clear that any test after the deal is a big NO. So much so that the US has retained the right to suspend or terminate supplies at its own discretion. The agreement has granted India no right to take corrective measures in case of any fuel – supply disruption. Rather, India’s obligations are legally irrevocable.

While the PM triumphed a win–win situation, the fact is that all the claims are elusive and the deal proceeds with the hands tied back. A deal has been done but the sovereignty has been compromised and only history will bear the truth. This might be a victory for the UPA regime and but certainly is a colossal loss for India. The deal tantamount’s to India acceding to the NPT regime. It appears as if all the obligations are squarely placed on India while all the privileges have been heaped towards the NSG. The sovereignty of the Nation has been mortgaged in perpetuity and the PM has led the Nation into a blind trap. The country will have to pay heavily for the intransigency of the PM.

(Shyam Jaju)
Headquarter Incharge