Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unwarranted

The New York Democrat lawmaker, Gary Ackerman’s remark that India should show courage and not allow the “minority position” which is against the India-United States nuclear deal to affect the historic initiative (Oct. 17) is highly undemocratic. He should understand that in a democracy, the voice and opinion of even one person is important and relevant to policy matters.

It is not the “courage” to defy “minority position” but efforts towards evolving a consensus that is important for a democracy. There is no doubt that India despite its diversity has emerged as the world’s largest democracy.

Seema Durrany,

New York

Mr. Ackerman’s description of those opposing the deal as those who bully from a minority position to tell the majority of people what is in their national interest is unwarranted. Who constitutes the minority? Everyone knows that it is the Congress that is in a minority on the issue, as both the Left and the BJP have been opposing the 123 agreement from the very beginning.

As for national interest, the deal is perhaps in the national interest of the U.S. Otherwise, why should leaders irrespective of their political affiliation speak in its favour and pressure India into accepting it?

Pradip Kumar Shome,

Chennai

The UPA government’s decision to put the nuclear deal on hold is better late than never. The nation cannot afford another election. No doubt Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would have found it embarrassing to inform the U.S. of the difficulties in operationalising the deal but the decision is timely. There is no sense in the demand from some quarters that Dr. Singh should resign as he has only acted in the nation’s interest.

B. Harish,

Mangalore

The government’s climb-down shows how in a parliamentary democracy, particularly in a coalition set-up, alliance partners can forcefully influence the policies in the national interest. Although the Left parties support the government from outside, they fight for the implementation of the common minimum programme and take up people’s issues.

R. Srinivasan,

Chennai

I don’t agree that the opposition to the nuclear deal constitutes a “minority position.” If it did, the government would have brushed aside the concerns of those opposing the deal. Again, I don’t agree that India is not courageous enough. The U.S. will do well to be courageous enough to extend full nuclear cooperation, including reprocessing technologies, the next time it tries to sell the deal to India.

T. Shankar,

Kumbakonam

BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that having staked his entire prestige on the nuclear deal, it is for Dr. Singh to decide whether he should resign on a matter of principle. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys lost the ODI series against Australia but the game of cricket must go on.

R. Chandrasekhar,

Ranipet

Mr. Ackerman is a top legal luminary and a trusted friend of India. Dr. Singh should take his advice seriously and not cave in to “minority bullying.”

He has immense goodwill on his side and is a man of impeccable character. He can muster sufficient courage to reiterate that the nuclear deal is the right thing to do.

Col C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),

Palakkad

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