The Hindu Business Line : N-deal: Chidambaram calls for ‘reasoned’ debate

Favouring debate: The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, delivering the Sixth Convocation Address at the Nalsar University of Law in Hyderabad on Saturday. –

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Hyderabad, July 19 The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on Saturday urged law graduates and legal experts to educate fellow citizens on the implications of the nuclear deal and how this can be very helpful in building the country’s nuclear power generation capacity.

Delivering the 6th annual Convocation of Nalsar University of Law near Hyderabad, Mr Chidambaram expressed disappointment and anguish over why the nuclear deal related issues were not being raised and answered in a logical manner.

“If a reasoned debate had taken place, the answers to some of the issues would have brought out its implications and this would have addressed various issues relating to the deal,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing debate on civil nuclear cooperation between India and countries such as France, Russia and the US, the Finance Minister said this assumes importance in the backdrop of India’s isolation in accessing nuclear reactors, fuel and technology since 1998.

Expressing concern over the denial of access to dual-use technologies on the ground that one of the uses could be related to nuclear energy, Mr Chidambaram said due to nuclear isolation, even with an installed nuclear power capacity of 4,120 MW the generation is now down at 54 per cent from 90 per cent in 2001-02.

Therefore, it would be appropriate for people to be informed that India wishes to end this nuclear isolation and gain access to reactors, fuel and technology in return to promise that certain civilian nuclear facilities, to be solely determined by India’s autonomy, would be segregated and placed under safeguards in a phased manner.

Simultaneously, India will pursue its strategic nuclear programme without subjecting it to any safeguards or inspection, he said.

Legal literacy

Mr Justice P.C. Rao, who was conferred with an honorary degree, said India is perhaps one of the most legislated States, which is a matter of concern. This is because there is no effort to build public opinion and also create a framework to bring about legal literacy.

How can we be a developed nation, when we do not even know how to regulate traffic, Mr Justice Rao asked. The question arises as to why make laws when we do not want to enforce them.