President Obama was well received during his visit to India. He was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Republic Day celebrations on Jan.26.
The two leaders of the world's biggest democracies managed to seal a nuclear deal in the two days Barack Obama was in New Delhi. But there were no details about the parameters of the nuclear deal, only that it resumed a previous agreement laid out by previous President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Amid the return of bear hugs by the President and mention of "wearing a Modi Kurta," skeptics of the nuclear deal say there was no substantial details or clarifications on the agreement.
Historically, Union Carbide's Bhopal chemical accident is a point of reference for the liability incurred by U.S. companies doing business in India. While the U.S. is seeking protection for its companies, Indian analysts say that victims of the Bhopal accident were paid just "pittance."
The Bhopal tragedy is deeply ingrained in the minds of the Indian people, giving rise to opposition of foreign investment in India. The heart of the nuclear deal lies in accountability for an accident. The U.S. demand to check fuel in nuclear reactors.
"A decade-old deal that would allow the U.S. to provide India with nuclear reactor components and fuel had met obstacles, one of which was about tracking where the material went," Commondreams.org reported.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma said in a statement, "We think we came to an understanding of the liability" issue, and said the deal "now opens the door for U.S. and other companies to come forward and help India develop its nuclear, non-carbon-based energy production."
On his arrival in Delhi, President Obama spoke about the upbeat relationship between India and the U.S. He talked about the U.S. collaborating in India's future growth and finalized an agreement to build unmanned aircraft for the military, putting forward a 10-year defense deal, the Defense Framework Agreement.
The President did not mention businesses in so many words but the tone of his discussions implied opening up India to foreign investment. There was an underpinning message that Mr. Modi would have to contain some of the radical fanatics creating political havoc in the country before India could focus on transforming into a peak economy defined by higher business interests.
