Did the PM mislead India ?

At the height of the debate on the Nuclear deal, the PMO was consistent in its assertions that the 123 deal would in no way compromise India's security and sovereignty. The assurance given to the Indian people and parliament was that the Hyde Act would not apply since the various clauses of the 123 deal covered all US concerns and those of the NSG and that India would retain the right to test and that the latest nuclear technology and reactor designs would be forthcoming.

From the US State Department's letter to the US Congress, it now emerges that is not the case. So did the PM mislead the Indian people and Parliament?

The Congress (I) upon the insistence of the PM went as far as risking the government and faced a vote of confidence riddled with, then seen as wild, accusations of a sell-out to US business interests and the PM, Manmohan Singh staking his own position at the altar of his word given ostensibly to US President George Bush. The Left parted ways with the Congress after nearly four and a half years of a somewhat turbulent liaison. It appears the inhibitions of the Left were not without reason.

In a hostile environment and ever-changing geopolitical realities, a large country such as ours, with thousands of miles of International borders and coastlines to guard, can ill-afford to give up its right to test. Tying the Indian nation for ever to a situation of no-testing for the sake of a few thousand megawatts of nuclear power and a few billion dollars of US investment may be the greatest disservice that Manmohan Singh has done to India in his otherwise glorious and unblemished career. Only the future would show if his moves were right or whether the PM would be held accountable by history for compromising India's security and sovereignty.

The above image is courtesy Outlook.