Rakesh Sood has rightly advised the Modi government (“ >Agenda for nuclear diplomacy ,” June 27), armed with a clear mandate, to seize the opportunity to resolve the ambiguities of the 2010 Nuclear Liability Law. What is becoming increasingly clear is that much as the Nuclear 5 wants to retain its exclusivity by refusing to acknowledge India as a responsible nuclear nation worthy of membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and inclusion in the Nuclear Club and wants it to continue as a de facto nuclear state, it is on account of a nuclear diplomatic coup of sorts that New Delhi has managed to negotiate the signing of the IAEA Additional Protocol. As a nation confronted by an acute energy crisis, it is imperative that the Modi government strives to expand India’s existing nuclear power sector and makes a sincere attempt to fulfil its commitment to mitigating global warming by phasing out its dependence on carbon-emitting and fast-depleting fossil fuels.
Nalini Vijayaraghavan,
Thiruvananthapuram
Now that we can import nuclear fuel from multiple sources we should make sure that the IAEA Additional Protocol has its ambiguous intricacies ironed out through a clarification of the Nuclear Liability Law. Our focus now should be to address the concerns of the NSG. One can be sure that experts would have helped the Modi government chalk out a plan. The only point that the writer did not focus on was the need for India to become self-sufficient in nuclear terms. With the availability of Thorium ores, all we need is the technology to harness it. Despite the lack of enthusiasm earlier, this government must look at this opportunity with optimism.
Kenneth Samuel,
Bidar, Karnataka
It is a fact that the U.S-India Civil Nuclear Agreement hit a roadblock after India introduced the Nuclear Liability Law. The world must understand that a large country like India with much fertile land can ill-afford to tackle a nuclear accident without some scope for liability. However, in clearing the Additional Protocol, India can also help clear apprehensions on the part of the West that the supplied nuclear material is for military use.
A. Vivash Reddy,
Bangalore
