The Indo-US nuclear deal

India continues to negotiate with the US on the much publicized deal on civilian nuclear cooperation. India's energy needs are real and keeping in mind that our energy requirements are going to increase more than 10-fold in the next four decades we have to develop reliable sources of energy. Nuclear energy is relatively cleaner than other modes of power generation, and with global-warming-related-climate-change already announcing it's arrival, it is imperative on our part to keep in mind environmental factors when we chart out our path towards progress.

If India is to secure the deal, and it has to while maintaining it's autonomy, it will become the first country to secure nuclear cooperation with the US while being a non-signatory to the NPT. The negotiations are however fraught with political land mines, and if we aren't careful enough we may end up sacrificing more than we bargained for. Out of the many, a single case in question would be the "right-of return" policy being dictated by the US, which claims that :
"....the U.S. draft states cooperation will cease if either country feels a situation has arisen which jeopardizes its supreme national interest. In such a situation, there will be a period of consultation between the two sides, followed by the termination of ongoing cooperation. Finally, India will be required to return imported equipment and material — including its nuclear fuel stockpile."

This clause is nothing short of a leash, India could jeopardize US interests by an action as significant as conducting nuclear tests to something as extraneous as forging stronger ties with China. America loves controlling the foreign policies of other countries, especially those with strategic importance. It's records in the middle east and in eastern Europe confirm the same.

The current deal necessitates India's cooperation in "containing and constraining" Iran. Much against our will we were forced to vote against Iran in the UN when sanctions were declared against it, we should not put ourselves in the same position again. India's relations with Iran or any other country should be based on our past history (through 5000 years of civilization many people have migrated from the middle east into our country to call it home) and on our national interests. We should make sure we do not leave our foreign policy open to influence by a hegemonistic America, that would weaken India's claim to being a true global leader in the near future.

Further reading :
Article on The Hindu
Hyde Act analysis