In opposing the nuclear deal, how’s this for ideological flexibility? The Left says the nuclear deal ties down India and undermines its sovereignty to US imperialism. US non-proliferation experts argue the exact opposite, that the deal allows India to build bombs and get access to nuclear power. As the deal moves forward, there is a break in the Left ranks with a set of opponents arguing both: that the deal allows India to make bombs and forces it to give in to US imperalism.

As New Delhi looks to wrap up negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency this month, these activsts, experts and expert activists have appealed to the Nuclear Suppliers Group not to give unconditional exemption to India and, instead, force it to sign the CTBT. And that fuel supplies should be stopped if India carries out a test.

Among the signatories are activist Medha Patkar, journalist Praful Bidwai, JNU professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Bangalore physicist M V Ramana, Delhi University professor Achin Vanaik and a group of Indian NGOs. They have signed a petition which demands that supplies should be stopped to India in case it carries out a test.

The appeal to the NSG titled “Fix the Proposal for Renewed Cooperation with India,” has been sponsored by the Arms Control Association, which recently nominated CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat as among the top contenders for the Arms Control Person of the Year. The list includes Sri Lanka’s Jayantha Dhanapala, a US Secretary General aspirant, and linguist Noam Chomsky.

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