As usual, I opened my inbox to a bulk of emails, but one stood out. The one which had "DESI" as the 'from' address and a topic which read: "Invitation to a seminar at University of Maryland". The event turns out be one co-hosted by a student organization at the University and the US-India Business Council, and titled "US-India Nuclear Energy Cooperation- a vision for the 21st century".

I recalled that off late India in general and the nuclear deal in particular has become front page news in many American newspapers and TV shows. In fact, not too long before did I get another invitation to an event termed India Iniative at Columbia University, along the same lines. Curiosity took me to reading more about the issue, and among my sources of knowledge were newspaper reports- both Indian and American, and friends, mainly Indian.


It all seems to have started with India realizing its need for an increasing and secure supply of energy in the near future as its economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. Among the various options that India has been thinking about was a pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan, but skepticism about having to depend on a neighbor which sees itself as its bete noire, have made India go slow so far on the project. The previous Indian government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, known for initiating increased ties with the United States, is supposed to have proposed a civil nuclear cooperation plan with President Bush, but it got postponed at that time.


With the increasing view that Pakistan continues to be harbinger of terrorists, US was looking for other "natural allies" in South Asia and the world's largest democracy seemed to be a potential bet. Ties were strengthened, and initiatives started for a nuclear cooperation, when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited India in July. Following up on this, President Bush visited India and on March 2, this year, signed the historical "Civilian Nuclear Cooperation" deal- one in which India will be asked to separate its civil and military nuclear facilities, and throw open the former to IAEA inspections. US will in turn, supply India nuclear fuel, for its civil energy needs, at a price much cheaper that what India ends up spending on its own


Initially as the US proposed the deal, there were some concerns raised by a section of Indian Nuclear scientists. Their main demand of keeping the "fast breeder reactor" program outside the purview of IAEA was agreed upon by the US. India's marxists, known for their anti-US stance, continue to oppose the deal, however, with overwhelming support from both the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP, India signed the deal, and as Dr Singh put it recently, is now "waiting for US to see it through in the Congress"


US lawmakers at present seem to be divided in their opinion. Condoleezza Rice defended the deal in one of her recent speeches, and many others have come out in support of the deal, as evidenced by a letter signed by 13 prominent personalities that was sent to the Congress. However, recent media reports like the one in LA times and Washington posts have predicted that the approval by the Congress would be a hard sell. Among the various issues raised, two points seemed to stand out. One, concerns from the non-proliferation lobby. And two, that if India is given civil nuclear energy by US, that will give it better chances for producing more nuclear weapons


However, India and the supporters of the deal argue that India is not a signatory of the NPT, and yet it has an impeccable record in non-proliferation. After its nuclear tests in 1998, thereby elevating itself to group of Nations with the capability of producing nuclear weapons, India had voluntarily offered to not conduct anymore nuclear tests, even though it is not a signatory of the CTBT. They also argue that the main motive for India is to satisfy its ever growing energy needs, and not to increase its weapons capability, and that it continues to advocate the "No first use of Nuclear weapons" policy. They argue that in fact India has remained one of the most peaceful Nations in the region, having never attacked another country even when it has to defend its own territory against them.


The coming days would prove which way the decision would go. But for now, the debate seems to have caught steam and from the Capitol is now spreading to the media and to US campuses like Columbia and Maryland.