India’s stance on nuclear tests

INDIAN Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday that his country, regardless as to which party is in power, “would keep its option open to conduct nuclear tests in future” despite the nuclear cooperation deal India has signed with the U.S. This landmark deal which has been made a law into the US, allows New Delhi access to American technology and nuclear fuel from the nuclear material suppliers group) (NSG). Some of the NSG members including Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden have reservations on this controversial accord which will necessitate amendment of NSG rules for supply of nuclear material and technology to a country which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
While analysts say other members of NSG will eventually follow the American policy, China may not go along. The supply of advanced nuclear technology and fuel by the U.S. to India will commence once technical details have been worked out. This will take another four months as explained by top US Administration officials. The stage is now set for India to acquire sophisticated nuclear technology from the US. The deal provides for inspection of only 14 nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, another 6 nuclear plants meant exclusively for military purposes shall remain outside the ambit of IAEA. Part of the technology and nuclear fuel to be acquired by the Indians would be surely diverted to the military facilities and IAEA will have no tools to ensure that its standards are being maintained. Proliferation of nuclear weapons has thus been facilitated. This exposes double standards of US Administration on the nuclear proliferation issue.
While Washington is pressurizing Iran and North Korea on the proliferation matter, it is openly encouraging India to pile up nukes. The US has entered into the nuclear cooperation deal to promote its own agenda in the region. Through this arrangement, US want India to act as a balancing force vis-a-vis China. The deal would survive as long as the Indians do not infringe the American law. If they opt to conduct nuclear tests, as Indian Foreign Minister has hinted, the deal may run into difficulties particularly if and when the Republican Party is not in power. The US is pushing ahead with the implementation of the controversial deal and Bush Administration continues to assure the Congress Members who are skeptical about India’s conduct that New Delhi will abide by all IAEA standards. Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in the Indian Parliament about nuclear tests will further embarrass the Bush Administration. However, their motives are totally different and will override all other considerations. The US-India nuclear deal will cause a major setback to efforts at making world free of nuclear weapons.

Justice delayed, but delivered

IT SEEMS the Indian justice delivery system is beginning to pull its act together, which is appreciated. Starting this October, courts have made headlines by wrapping up lingering high-profile cases and awarding punishments to some of India’s rich and powerful – something not typical to much of the Third World’s corruption-ridden judiciaries. The first such verdict to catch public attention came on October 30, when the Delhi high court sentenced a senior police officer’s son to death for a rape and murder committed 10 years ago.
Three more stunning rulings have come so far this December. First, Federal Coal Minister Shibu Soren was sentenced for life for kidnapping and murdering his aide a dozen years in the past. Then, MP and former cricket star Navjot Siddhu was given three years after being found guilty of manslaughter. And finally, the son of a governing Congress party politician, Mannu Sharma was found guilty of the 1999 murder of model Jessica Lal, though the sentence is still pending.
It is no secret that in most developing countries, justice systems are not strong enough to net the politically well-established and the influential, who campaigners say continue to get away with murder — literally. That is why the Indian judiciary’s newfound show of autonomy is a courageous step in the right direction. It is meant to restore long-lost public faith. In doing so, it is setting important precedents that will be difficult to depart from.
It bears noting that the importance of the judiciary’s autonomy cannot be stressed enough. Charged with dispensing justice, it has perhaps the most critical task in the entire social make-up of a democratic polity. When people stop expecting justice, corruption sets in and the entire fabric of society begins to unravel. It is also important to note that most of the decisions in questions have based on circumstantial evidence, which might not hold when they are referred to the Supreme Court. And that is when the true test of the judiciary’s new resolve will come; when we know if the Supreme Court will uphold the lower courts rulings.

—Khaleej Times