WHY BJP SHOULD OPPOSE THE NUCLEAR DEAL ?

[paritosh]

WHY SHOULD BJP OPPOSE THE NUCLEAR DEAL - BEACUSE IT'S AGAINST INDIA’S INTEREST ?

ABC OF NUCLEAR DEAL (123 AGREEMENT)

Section 123 of US Atomic Energy Act (1954) allows US to enter into civilian nuclear deals with other countries and all such agreements are called 123 Agreements.

India is not a recognized Nuclear weapon state and hence conditions prescribed for non-nuclear states will apply to India.

After Pokhran I, US passed the nuclear non-Proliferation Act in 1978 which makes it mandatory to enter into such agreements with countries which have carried out nuclear tests only after US Congress has given authority to waive some of the provisions. This is the US India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act 2006, named after the member who introduced this bill, Mr Henry Hyde.

Thereafter India had to conclude a safeguard agreement with IAEA wherein all facilities are subjected to inspections as and when needed. These safeguards are applicable in perpetuity (section 104b 2 of Hyde Act).

Then US and India approached and reached an agreement with 45 Nations which form a Nuclear Supplier Group. Then, the 123 went back to US congress for final approval.

BJP’S CONCERNS:

Indian civil facilities to be put under IAEA safeguards

Clause 34 and 39-42: India to submit design as soon as it decides to build or modify a facility.

Clauses 117 and 127: Not only 14 reactors but additionally 21 places too will be in the net.
These include 3 Heavy water plants,6 installations at Nuclear fuel complex,PREFRE reprocessing plant at Tarapur,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology and Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics.

Since research in civil facilities paves way for military development, our military technology too is bound to be affected. If Indian defense needs more plutonium in future, it will not be able to divert from civilian reactors and hence more military reactors will have to be built which will take about 8 years.

In the P5 countries, there are 217 reactors and only 11 are under safeguards.In US there are 104 out of which only 5 are under safeguards and this is a voluntary offer.

Clause 32: India can withdraw a facility from safeguards with prior consent of IAEA only after it is no longer usable, meaning it is dismantled.

Clause 104-106: No arbitration in case of dispute. We can only appeal to the board whose decision will be binding and if we do not adhere to it, it will be reported to UN General Assembly. Have we ever received justice there? History is witness to this.

Additional Protocol s demanded by Hyde Act to be based on IAEA protocol applicable to non nuclear states. We cannot transfer equipment, personnel, design and operating manuals from Civil to military programme.

Under Para 23d and 26 d, indigenous stocks of Thorium (exceeding 20 Tonnes) will be open to perpetual inspections
Inspection cost which will be borne by India will be Euro 1.2 Million per site per year. Why do we pay for this?

India agreed to separate civilian and military facilities and programmes.Why throw down the drain what our scientists have achieved? The cost of separation will be huge and this was never mentioned in the house even though BJP is asking about this since 2005. This separation plan is not applicable to recognized nuclear states.

US has trapped India into an agreement whose provisions are more stringent than those of CTBT or NPT which we have not signed.

The Objective of the Hyde Act is to cap, reduce and eliminate India’s nuclear weapon programme and thus restricts our nuclear sovereignty. China has supplied 6 reactors to Pakistan without asking for separation plan.

US will secure India’s participation to contain Iran. This agreement wants India’s foreign policy to be same as that of the USA.We will not deal with Iran as per the wishes of USA.India can not become the camp follower of any country.

The bill will ask US President to certify every year that India is adhering to the laws of the deal & keep them informed of any nuclear activities of India.The quantity of uranium, mined by India.The amount of uranium likely used or allocated for explosives.The rate of production of fissile material for nuclear explosive devices.

The treaty is for 40 years and extendable for another 10 years. However we shall have to remain under surveillance for all times to come.

Section 106 of Hyde Act bans Indian testing and specifies punitive actions including returning nuclear reactors sold to India.123 Agreement cannot override Hyde Act. This is an infringement of India’s sovereignty.

This makes us a junior partner in the partnership with USA.

The separation plan is tilted heavily against India. 14 out of 22 Thermal power reactors will be placed under observation. We have agreed to place under safeguard all future civilian reactors and fast breeder reactors even if they are 100% indigenous.

Under US pressure, we have agreed to shut down the CIRUS reactor in 2010 which is a major supplier of plutonium for our weapons programme.

123 mention that US inspectors can inspect those places where duel purpose items are made and verify that they have not been misused. This is really too much!

Fictional right is given to India by 123 that we can take corrective measures in event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies. Nowhere has the Govt of India clarified what these corrective measures could be.

This is the second 123 we are signing with USA. 1st was related to the Tarapur reactors and when India did Pokhran I, they terminated the deal citing its domestic laws. Shouldn’t we be more careful this time?

NPT is coming up for a review in 2010. Shouldn’t we have waited to negotiate a deal which will enable us to be recognized as a nuclear weapon state. What was the hurry?

Draft not shown to allies/left and PM refused a JPC to investigate. Why? Other countries saw it, it was on the net and to the entire world but Indian Parliament was not shown. Isn’t this a mockery of democracy? Leave alone the Parliament, Dr Singh did not consult his cabinet, the cabinet committee on political affairs, his senior colleagues or allies.

Contrasting statements: Govt says, Hyde Act is not applicable but all US congressmen say it fully applies!

Even a 20 fold increase in nuclear capacity by 2030 will lead nuclear energy to fulfil only 5% of our total needs. So what was the need or the hurry on this deal?

Why didn’t the government sign an agreement, presumably on par with 123 agreements with Russia? The Indian side backed out at the last moment. What was the proposal? Why did you back out if you had agreed earlier?

Left supported China’s nuclear test in 1964 and opposed India’s test in 1998! Why?

Dr Singh as leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha had severely criticized the Pokhran II.

In short, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh are virtually handing over the control of the bomb that Atalji made for our security to the USA through this agreement. Pakistan and China will have no such restriction

Atalji said during a Clinton-Vajpayee joint statement –“We shall work together”. Dr Singh said-“We will work with the USA”. Note the difference!


3 REASONS GIVEN BY GOVT FOT THE DEAL AND A CRITICAL EXAMINATION

1.This will end India’s isolation imposed since Pokhran I

1954-India develops 3 stage nuclear programme.

StageI- Set up Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors using Uranium to produce power.The fuel which was used is called spent fuel and elements in it like plutonium can be re-used after reprocessing.

Stage II- Set up Fast Breeded reactors using plutonium recovered from stage I. The special feature was that it actually gives us more fuel than it uses even after producing electricity, so it overcomes the uranium shortage in our country.

Stage III- Use our vast Thorium resources and produce electricity using plutonium and thorium.

Stage I is completed. For second stage, a Fast Breed Test reactor is operational since 20 years, a prototype fast breed reactor of 500MW is under construction and should be over by 2011.

By 2025 we will be in a position to move over to thorium reactors.

This will make us self reliant, both in fuel and technology. India has achieved this despite the isolation

2. The agreement will enable India to produce more power

It is a wrong statement that India is short on Uranium. We have large reserves in Jharkhand, Meghalaya, A.P,Rajesthan and Laddakh.AS per Govt, only the mines of A.P can give us 1200MW for 50 years, so imagine what is there from the other places! A Uranium mine can be developed in 3 years and the reactor in 5 years.

Did you know?

Uranium shortage in India is due to Manmohan singh who as Finance minister cut the budget for uranium mining.
P. Chidambaram reduced allocation for nuclear power schemes from 2333 crores to Rs 889 crores in 2008-09.

We can produce 100,000 MW of hydro power in NE India alone.

Nuclear energy is more expensive than coal, gas or Hydro. Coal based plants cost 4.5 crores,Gas turbines, 3 crores, indegineously built nuclear reactors 7-8 crore and imported reactor 10 crores ! For 20000MW by 2020, Rs two Lakh Crores would be needed in next 10 years!!!

By the way, Uranium prices have shot up by 300% in last two years!What about future escalations?

If the costs of reprocessing are considered, then nuclear power becomes 27% more costly than coal based system of which we have reserve of 90 million tonnes! Is this way to welcome foreign companies make money?


Australia which has the largest reserves of uranium does not have a single plant and US has not constructed any after 1979!!! So even this myth of the government is shattered!

3. It will dramatically improve our relations with the USA

A one sided agreement will improve relations? At what cost? BJP started this process after the relations deteriorated after Pokhran II, and also started process of strategic partnership but on the basis of equality and not subservience as this govt is doing.

A country becomes great on its strength and achievements and not on basis of help from others.

3 more claims by UPA government and the contradictions:

Life time supplies guarantee.
Right to re-process spent fuel.
Right to get superior and sensitive technology.

ALL 3 CLAIMS ARE FALSE!

There is no guarantee of assured supplies. The US Congress has rejected this.

Right to reprocess has been postponed to future date subject that India sets a separate facility for such reprocessing and only if arrangements are worked out between the two countries. This too will have to be passed by the US congress.

The issue of transfer of superior and sensitive technology too has been put off to a future date and is subject to an amendment of present agreement.

So we are talking of amendments and on none of the three issues has the US made any commitments, except push it to a distant future.


BJP’S BOTTOM LINE:

1. US must give us rights at par with other nuclear states.
2. India will fulfil those obligations as adopted by other states.
3. Indian actions will be reciprocal at any stage.
4. India will accept international inspections only after all restrictions are lifted.
5. The agreement must provide for uninterrupted and unconditional supply of nuclear fuel
6. IAEA inspections valid till the deal holds good only. Not forever.
7. Complete freedom regarding foreign policy options
8. Right of India to terminate the deal on national security grounds.


What they said

Nicholas Burns (within 24 hours of the deal)-“India committed itself to a series of actions to which it had not previously committed to”

Condoleeza Rice, to the US House: “ India is not and not going to be a member of NPT as a nuclear weapon state.We are seeking to address an untenable situation.
What is that situation?

Manmohan Singh(17/08/06) in Parliament:”There is no question of India agreeing to a safeguard agreement or an Additional Protocol applicable to non-nuclear-weapons-state of the NPT

Manmohan Singh (20/07/05) in Washington :”We can move forward only by broad national consensus”
Where is this National Consensus?

Manmohan Singh (10/03/08), in Parliament : “ We have not agreed to any proposal which would amount to a Cap on our nuclear programme.We have ensured that care is taken of India’s present and future requirements”
Now will there be any requirements?

[paritosh]

THE country's power sector, infamous for its distribution sector inefficiencies, shares the top slot in the company of countries such as Nigeria and Nicaragua when it comes to overall transmission and distribution (T&D) loss levels.

Countries such as China, Pakistan and even African nations such as Cameroon have more respectable T&D losses as compared to India's average loss levels of about 33 per cent.

In comparison, Pakistan's T&D losses are about 26 per cent, while the loss levels in China are close to those in the developed world at a creditable 7 per cent. While T&D losses in Russia are around 12 per cent, loss levels in much of the Western countries including the UK and the US are around 6-8 per cent. Japan and Germany set benchmarks in power transmission and distribution efficiency with overall loss levels of just 4 per cent.

For every 100 units of power generated, 60 units are paid for by consumers. The rest is lost in weak transmission and distribution (T&D). Power theft in the year 2005, according to the Planning Commission, was 20 per cent of the total power generated in the country.

Technical loss is also around 20 per cent because of carrying power across huge distances at low voltage. Ideally, power should be carried at high voltage and transformers should be deployed along the way for all distribution centers. The problem is severe in the eastern region, where surplus capacity is idling due to lack of absorption network and evacuation facilities.

This requires adequate investment. Countrywide, 80 per cent of the power investment is in generation and the rest for distribution. Taking a note of this imbalance, the Planning Commission says low investment in distribution is akin to “building a superstructure without the foundation”.

To make the Indian power sector viable, the Central Electricity Authority estimates that T&D losses should be below 10 per cent. And for every one per cent reduction in T&D loss, International Energy Agency estimates that India can save an additional capacity of 800 MW, enough to power a state like Himachal Pradesh.

[aarbee_otp]

Dear Paritoshji,

It is good that you have explained in detail the intricancies involved in the 123 and hyde act agreeements, and the reasons for BJP opposing this deal. However, I must say that BJP leaders failed to educate the masses the reason for their opposing this deal in simple langugage as you have done here. It has definitely resulted in creating an impression in the minds of masses that BJP opposed the deal just for the sake of opposing it and nothing more.

VJPs stand on such an important issue of national importance should have been articulately circulated to remove any misgivings the people may have about the party due to it opposing the deal.

It is not a bad idea to explain the deal in electioneering time to the people and elaborate how it is detrimental to India.

Thanks,

Babu

[paritosh]

babubhai
tx 4 ur encouraging response. a request, why not copy paste and fw to all? and ask them to fw too
regds
paritosh
Jai Hind

[vivaram41]

It's good informative article needs wide publicity.Emenant nuclear scientists have already expressed these apperhensions for which the UPA Govt gave deaf's ears.The leftis and SP are equal culprits.Now the Talibanisation of the north western Pakistan which is bound to spread is realy a matter of grave concern.There are possibilities that in the prevailng situation the Talibna/Alqueda may have access to Nuclear arsenal and use it against us. Pakistan had already freed the condemened nuke scientists AQ Khan and todays TV reports say he has Alqueda connctions.BJP should clearly state its policy on 123 deal in its manifesto.BJP if comes to power should renegotiate whole deal and ensure India is at par as other Nuclear weapon states.In the prevailing economoc crisis and recession the western nations have no other way and will agree for our terms to do business with us.

[paritosh]

its ime as we take a step forwrd by advani@campus, to inform and educate the youth of this critical issue.
10 cr new voters. 10 crore new hopes are beckoning us to lead India to prosperity and strength. Cant let down India's future.

jai hind

[nkumar]

Dear Paritoshji

I would appreciate the way you have explained the Nuclear Deal between U.S & India and why BJP should oppose it. I fully agree with you and further add that Nuclear Deal under reference is against India' s interest on following grounds :

1. Nuclear weapon option :

a. It DOES NOT allow India to carry on future nuclear weapon tests which are so essential for our security and more so in the changing situation in our neighbourhood. It is suicidal to surrender this right.
b. The agreement puts restriction on production and accumulation of fissile material like Plutonium & Uranium 235 which are required for nuclear weapons.

2. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) :
Nuclear weapons have no meaning without a suitable delivery system . This agreement puts restriction on development of missile technology which will affect our space programme also.

3. Power Generation :
The biggest argument being given in support of the agreement is that it will boost our nuclear power generation capacity. This is totally wrong because we donot have sufficient Uranium resourses and the agreement does not ensure uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel for reactors purchased by us. In case of any dispute with uranium suppliers the country will to incurr not only heavy financial losses but also the whole power supply system will collapse . IS IT ACCEPTABLE.

4.Foreign Policy :
At present we are following our independent foreign policy. As per this agreement we will to follow and supprt USA on Nuclear Non Proleferation issues.

Suggestions :
1. The whole agreement should be reviewed and facts should be put in front of the nation.
2. No agreement which does not recognise India as Nuclear Power State is acceptable to us.
3. We should concentrate on conventional source of power generation and develop renewable sources like solar and wind power.
Meanwhile we should continue our research and development programme on fast breeder technology using Thorium as fuel.
Thanks

nkumar

[mpx1826]

Good posts paritosh and others... so why did the party not take it to the masses.... may be most of them don't have the time to appreciate the nuances or even go through the details. I don't care much about the clause preventing nuclear testing... to me we should test when we want to irrespective of what other countries or their stupid act says... and keep getting the fuel in the meantime . But there are a lot of other serious issues, as you listed... issues which are going to hinder our technological progress in the nuclear field... the govt shoulnd't have signed up for it... but the congressis have once again managed to sell the nation. clearly the US wanted to sell its stuff, reactors, uranium etc and it managed to hoodwink us into signing on the dotted line. And a country with a record of 1000+ nuclear test and enough nukes to destroy the world many times over is telling us to cap our tests and capabilities. What a scam!!!!

Putting the issue before educated masses such as during Advani@Campus is a good idea... I am sure the educated people will appreciate this... more intelligent writeup on this issue like the one you have here would also be good. The NDA and party's manifesto should say something about renegotiation or atleast not allowing for any reduction in our scientific progress.

But I don't think this is an election winner or even close to it.
Manish

[paritosh]

manish and n kumar

ur thoughts are indeed gr8. i request u to put up this issue in as many fora as possible and truly make ...jago india jago a reality

jai hind

[Nihar]

Dear Paritoshji,
Ur article is really informative and eye opening one. This information has to b circulate to mass. Some serious steps has to be taken, and as I believe Advani ji is the perfect man who can turn the table.Wish him all the best for the upcoming election.The nation need a man like him.He is the second iron man of India after Sardar vallabh bhai patel.

Jai Hind,
Nihar Ray