13, March 2006 Indo-US nuclear deal
It is a pity that many
Indo-Americans support the recent US/India nuclear deal. This is indicative of
a deep malaise in the Indian psyche. It seems that many of us have been unable
to jettison the unhealthy ‘hat in the hand’ mentality of being the former step-child
of the British raj. Sadly, we still retain a residue of an unhealthy complex
vis a vis our relationship to the U.S. While Indian entrepreneurs and business
moguls deserve much credit for biting off a sizeable piece of the world
economic pie, over 700 million of our less fortunate brethren live in abject
poverty. It is therefore unconscionable that our scarce resources are being
squandered to build more nuclear weapons which can never be used without
causing self-immolation of Indian society and a rapid demise of our most
precious planet. We become so enamored when the ‘lone super power’ glances
coyly in our direction and embraced an ill-fated deal which is driven purely by
U.S. economic self-interest.
Indians and many NRI’s seem to be
intoxicated with the thought that we may soon be become senior members of the
exclusive nuclear club. Bush’s overtures to India exposes the blatant hypocrisy
of U.S. foreign policy. It does not hesitate to castigate and bully Iran for
its nuclear ambitions while at the same time rewarding India’s refusal to sign
the non-proliferation treaty. India missed a wonderful opportunity to become a
peace maker and a responsible custodian of our planet. It should have used the
historic meeting with the U.S. and taken a lead role by insisting that the US
and its erstwhile allies, Britain, Israel and Pakistan, freeze production of
nuclear weapons by signing the non-proliferation treaty and calling a halt to
this nuclear madness which is threatening our very existence and bringing us
all to the brink of annihilation. Let us hope
the U.S. Congress stiffens its spine and kills the deal.
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