Brajesh Mishra: India should go ahead with nuke deal

Another vote to go ahead with Indo–US Nuclear Deal came from none other than BJP’s former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, who in an interview to be aired in CNN-IBN channel, said that not committing to the deal would be a severe loss of face for India.

“Obviously, dual-use technology will not be available to us if we don't go through with this and, of course, it's a setback. It will be a severe loss of face for the government of India and for India,” he said.

Mishra’s statement has become significant in the light that it comes from the person who is close to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

However, he maintained that to go ahead with the nuclear deal is his personal views. But when asked that is it feasible to clinch the deal without CPI and BJP’s support he quipped that it was a political question and stressed that no to the deal will be harmful.

Mishra sounded strongly in support of nuclear deal with Bush government which according to him will be a defining moment for India but leaving it for reconsidering it with other government will make the deal more difficult with new clauses and provisions.

Endorsing the same Mishra said that our three stage nuclear programme will suffer a setback and refuted the fear shown by political parties that the deal is possible to curtain India’s sovereign rights.

“After the talks I've had with various representatives of the government of India at a fairly high level and some scientists, I'm convinced that there is not going to be any major impact on the strategic programme through the deal... this deal doesn't stop us from continuing our strategic programme,” he added.

He also made it clear that there won’t be any restriction on nuclear tests, reflecting on the same he said, “In my view we are not restricted from carrying out tests and, more or less, the programme we had devised before we left the NDA government is on-going.” But he also reminded that a nuclear test would sure be followed by sanctions.

This statement by Mishra will surprise BJP which recently has aired its view, opposing the nuclear deal that it will prevent India from doing any further nuclear tests.

The deal has been hanging in an unknown destiny since long with Left parties opposing it and threatening to pull from government if it signs the deal.