Experts Recall UPA’s Nuclear Deal as Rahul Gandhi Slams India-US Trade Framework
Experts contrast Rahul Gandhi's trade deal 'sellout' claim with UPA's 2008 nuclear concessions.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, recently accused the Government of “selling out Bharat Mata” over a trade and tariff framework with the United States. Analysts, however, point out that similar criticisms could be directed at his own party’s record, particularly the 2008 Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement under the UPA.
The 123 Agreement, hailed at the time as a historic diplomatic success, ended India’s so-called “nuclear isolation” and allowed access to global nuclear commerce. However, the deal imposed binding commitments that significantly altered India’s nuclear program, critics argue, including intrusive oversight of civilian facilities.
Under the agreement, India had to implement a formal Separation Plan, dividing nuclear infrastructure into civilian and military streams, with the civilian program placed under permanent IAEA safeguards. Fourteen out of twenty-two reactors were opened to perpetual inspections, making a substantial segment of India’s energy infrastructure subject to continuous international monitoring.
Also Read: India-US Trade Deal: Farmers Stay Protected, Exports Gain Big, Whisky Gets Cheaper
Observers note that the United States explicitly linked the deal to its expectations. The Hyde Act, a US law operationalizing the agreement, required annual compliance reports on India’s nuclear activities to be submitted to the US Congress. This subjected aspects of India’s sovereign nuclear program to foreign legislative oversight.
Experts emphasize that India’s acceptance of perpetual safeguards and restrictions on enrichment and reprocessing technologies imposed strategic constraints, including limitations on the three-stage nuclear program and fuel cycle strategy. The UPA also tied the deal to a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing, further constraining India’s strategic autonomy.
Analysts argue that while the UPA hailed the nuclear deal as a historic achievement, today, accusations of “selling out” the nation over transparent and reciprocal trade terms appear inconsistent. They suggest that past compromises under the nuclear agreement highlight the complexities of India-US engagements, calling for a balanced historical perspective.
Also Read: India-US Trade Deal Nears Final Stage Says Jaishankar
