Economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia shared insights on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's efforts to secure the Indo-US nuclear deal during his second term. Singh faced opposition from within his party and the left parties, who wanted to vote the government out. To overcome this, Singh sought help from then-President APJ Abdul Kalam to persuade Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief, to support the deal. This political maneuvering was crucial in lifting the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) restrictions, which was possible due to Singh's relationship with then-US President George Bush.
Ahluwalia also credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for restoring relations with the West after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, although Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) sanctions remained. He emphasized that the Indo-US deal was significant in removing NSG restrictions, allowing India to expand its technology and military partnership with the US.
Ahluwalia praised Manmohan Singh for lifting 138 million people out of poverty and achieving unprecedented economic growth during his tenure. He highlighted the Indo-US nuclear deal as a key achievement of Singh's second term.
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is an Indian economist and civil servant who has held various important positions in the Indian government, including Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Manmohan Singh is an Indian economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He is known for his role in economic reforms and the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The Indo-US Nuclear Deal is an agreement between India and the United States that allows India to access nuclear technology and fuel from the US, despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
NSG stands for Nuclear Suppliers Group, which is a group of countries that control the export of materials and technology that can be used to make nuclear weapons. The deal helped India get access to nuclear technology by lifting these restrictions.
APJ Abdul Kalam was a renowned Indian scientist and the 11th President of India. He was known as the 'Missile Man of India' for his work on ballistic missile technology.
Mulayam Singh Yadav was an Indian politician and the founder of the Samajwadi Party. He played a significant role in Indian politics, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an Indian politician who served as the Prime Minister of India. He is remembered for his efforts to improve India's relations with other countries and for conducting nuclear tests in 1998, known as Pokhran-II.
Pokhran-II refers to a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India in May 1998 at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. These tests established India as a nuclear weapons state.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *