India's sovereign right to pursue independent foreign trade policy, including energy and defence imports from Russia, must be protected against extraterritorial application of US sanctions law.
Aaj hum ek bahut hi mahatvapurn sawaal par vichar karenge: kya India ko Western sanctions ke bawajood Russia ke saath apna vyapar jaari rakhne ka adhikar hai? Yeh sirf ek diplomatic sawaal nahi hai — yeh India ki sovereign economic policy aur uski strategic autonomy ka sawaal hai. Main Counsel Aarav se nivedan karungi ki woh apna paksh prastut karen.
My lord, main yeh clearly kehna chahta hoon ki India ka Russia ke saath trade karna naa sirf uski economic zaroorat hai, balki uska sovereign adhikar bhi hai — aur Constitution of India ka Article 302 Parliament ko trade par restrictions impose karne ki shakti deta hai, lekin yeh shakti kisi foreign sanction regime ke hadaafe se nahi, balki India ke apne national interest se chalti hai. Koi bhi Western sanction ek non-binding unilateral measure hai jiska India par koi direct legal force nahi — India UN Security Council ki mandatory sanctions ke bahar kisi bhi desh ka peecha nahi kar sakta aur nahi karna chahiye. Isliye main maanta hoon ki India ko yeh adhikar poori tarah retain karna chahiye, aur ise diplomatic pressure mein gawana ek sansthagat kamzori hogi.
My lord, main Bina hoon, vipaksh ki taraf se, aur main yeh clearly kehna chahti hoon — Russia ke saath vyapar ka 'adhikar' retain karne ki baat karna aur Western sanctions ke beech usse ek national policy principle banana, yeh do alag cheezein hain. Paksh ne jo case banaya hai, woh sovereign right ki baat karta hai, lekin Constitution ka Article 302 Parliament ko hi yeh shakti deta hai ki woh trade par restrictions impose kare — yeh shakti sirf Parliament mein niwas karti hai, kisi abstract 'right to trade with Russia' mein nahi. Isliye jab hum kehte hain ki India ko yeh 'right retain karna chahiye', toh seedha sawaal uthta hai — kis constitutional framework ke under, aur kya us framework mein international sanctions ka koi consideration hai ya nahi?
My lord, vipaksh yeh argument de raha hai ki Western sanctions ke saamne India ko jhukna chahiye — lekin main kehna chahta hoon ki India ki sovereign trade policy ka faisla koi baahri bloc nahi, sirf Parliament karega. Article 302 of the Constitution of India Parliament ko yeh shakti deta hai ki woh trade aur commerce par restrictions impose kare — iska seedha matlab hai ki yeh power exclusively Parliament mein nishit hai, kisi foreign sanction regime mein nahi. Russia ke saath hamara trade — khaas taur par discounted crude oil, fertilizers, aur defence procurement — India ke 1.4 billion logon ke economic interest mein hai, aur ise kisi aur ki geopolitical agenda par kurban nahi kiya ja sakta.
My Lord, paksh ne ek romanticised argument diya — ki trade sovereignty ka matlab hai har haath se haath milana, chahe wo haath khoon se ranga ho ya nahi. Main yeh maanti hoon ki economic independence zaroori hai, lekin strategic autonomy ka yeh matlab kabhi nahi hota ki hum un transactions ko 'right' ka darja de dein jo hamare apne long-term diplomatic aur security interests ko undermine karti hain — kyunki aaj Russia ke saath unrestricted trade ka 'right' retain karna kal hamare technology imports, defence partnerships aur financial access ko internationally isolate kar sakta hai. Vipaksh ka nishkarsh seedha hai: yeh 'right' as a blanket proposition nahi rehna chahiye — India ki strategic autonomy ka matlab selective, case-by-case engagement hai, naa ki ek unconditional commitment jo hamare apne global standing ko kamzor kare.
Ek taraf ka kehna hai ki India ki strategic autonomy aur energy security ke liye Russia ke saath vyapar ek constitutional aur sovereign zaroorat hai — doosri taraf ka kehna hai ki Western sanctions ke saath align hona India ke long-term diplomatic aur economic hitoon mein hai. Main koi faisla nahi sunaungi, lekin ek balanced legal suggestion deti hoon: India ko apni sovereign foreign trade policy ke tahat Russia ke saath vyapar jaari rakhne ka adhikar hai, magar sath hi transparent regulatory frameworks banana chahiye taaki third-party sanctions exposure aur financial system ke risks ko manage kiya ja sake — yeh dono pakshon ke genuine concerns ka samman karta hai. Ab main citizens se nivedan karungi ki is debate ko rate karein aur apni raay share karein!