Cong Meets to Discuss End-User Pact Row
With Opposition BJP walking out of Lok Sabha yesterday on the issue, the End User Monitoring Agreement is becoming the last big controversy about Indo-US pacts in India. The pact is next phase of Indo-US nuke deal that posed an existential threat to the UPA government last year.
On Tuesday, the Opposition staged walkouts describing the agreement as a sellout.
The Congress party, in a huddle on the issue, is holding a high level meeting to discuss the topic. The meeting is attended by party president Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, AK Antony and Ahmed Patel. A strong statement of support is expected from the party later on Wednesday.
The pact is causing controversy because it allows the US experts to inspect all military equipment and dual use technologies sold to India.
As of today, the US has identical pacts with 82 other countries. The UPA government has been claiming a diplomatic victory over the fact that the US will not have a unilateral right to inspect India’s military bases or the military equipment it sells to India.
However, the opposition and even some UPA allies are critical of the government and accusing it of yielding to US pressure.
The main Opposition BJP complains that US weapon inspectors can walk into Indian military installations on the excuse that they want to check the use of US hardware.
The DMK has also sought clarifications as well on this.
The biggest hurdle in the run up to agreeing on the terms for End User Monitoring for the last 2 years was whether inspectors would be allowed access to equipment inside Indian military installations at their will.
The government insists such inspections will be done at a place and time of India’s choice and with mutual consultation. And this will be binding for all US military sales in the future not even changes in any US law in the future will impact the agreement.
