Nuclear Deal - India Goes to the IAEA - "Midnight Deceit"?

In what was seen as a surprise move, the Indian government submitted the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing the need to have it reviewed prior to the meeting with the IAEA Board. The opposition parties cried foul, terming the move 'midnight deceit' and a betrayal of the commitments made by the UPA government to seek a trust vote before approaching the board.

The President of India has summoned the Prime Minister for a meeting, amid demands for a trust vote within the week.There were allegations of a 'deal within the deal' and of the Prime Minister treating this as his 'personal agreement.' On the other hand, the UPA praised the show of support by the G8 nations and termed this one of the best deals in the history of inter-governmental relations. They cited the safety clauses of India's right to take steps to maintain supplies to civilian nuclear reactors in the event of a nuclear test and a breakdown in international supplies. 

At the G-8 meeting in Japan, the leaders stressed safe, peaceful nuclear development, while placing weak targets for emissions reductions on themselves. The climate goals were not seen as ineffective, and despite President Bush including China and India in the goals, there were divisions reported between the G-8 and the developing nations, with each wanting the other to move first.

In India, at least, the UPA Government took the initiative, breaking the stalemate, and losing no time in moving forward after the Left Front withdrew support. It remains to be seen if the current governments in either India or the United States have time to negotiate the agreements before they come to the testing grounds, as it were.