Media Release

Manipal, Aug 18: "India being a free country should have her own foreign policy. Other countries can't dictate India what to do and what not to. India is capable of taking her own decisions and the issues related to security & safety should not be influenced at all by any other country including the US," stated Dr. Rajashekharan P Warrier, Vice Chancellor, Manipal University starting 'The Independence Day Debate' on "The Indo-US nuclear deal infringes on India's right to pursue an independent foreign policy.".

He was the special first participant speakerat the  inter-collegiate pre MUN debate competition organized by the Model United Nations Directorate on the occasion of 61st Independence Day.

Fifteen teams from eight institutes of Manipal University comprising of two members each participated in the debate, with a member speaking for while the other speaker speaking against the motion. Each speaker spoke for three minutes and faced two interjection questions at the end of his speech.

In the best team category Deepti Prasad & Khushboo, students of Manipal Life Science College(MLSC) grabbed the 3rd prize while Ranita Goswami & Swati stood second. Vatsal and Arunabh of Manipal Institute of Technology were adjudged the best team.

Deepti Prasad was adjudged the best speaker. She felt that the Nuclear Deal infringed on India's Independent foreign police and  said "If India values the nuclear deal it would fall in line with America's stand on various issues. This also means that all future co operations between India and the US will be governed under the provision of US national laws."

Winners will get direct entry as a delegate into the prestigious National Level Model United Nations-Summit Manipal 2008 scheduled to be held during 2-5 October at Manipal University. It would be the largest simulation of the concept in South Asia.

Concluding the Debate, Ayush Prasad, Advisor to MUN Directorate 2008 & Founder MUN Manipal, said, "Alliance are a partnership. When India founded the NAM, it entered into a partnership with all the countries who were member nation of NAM. Any foreign policy decision was taken in consultation with it. India cant remain an isolated island in the world. We have to enter into strategic partnership with nations. Being a part of the UN is in itself such an alliance of nations. Our foreign policy decision does get influenced by other nations. The fear in our minds today is that India would become a minor partner who is threatened by the Super Power. To avoid such a circumstance, we youth must work harder than ever to make our country vibrant and strong to induce such a fear in the minds of Americans or at least become an equal partner."

M V Kamath, Director, Manipal Institute of Communication who was one among the three judges, said after the event, "The Indo-US nuclear deal was seriously and brilliantly discussed by the participants and I am very much impressed to see it.The students of our University are very well informed."

"Though it is not possible to discuss such an issue in just three to five minutes but their tremendous home work and presentation was quite impressing," he added further.

Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman MUN Directorate and Prof & Head Department of E-Banking and Commerce, Dr.Ajay Shah,  were the other judges for this debate competition.The audience was also addressed by Neel Kamal, Director General MUN Directorate who encouraged students of Manipal University to participate in the Model United Nations Summit Manipal 2008 as it would give them tremendous exposure. The event was possible because of the dedication and efforts of Abhishek Kumar, (Director Events Hosting,MUN Directorate) and Yashwant Lodha(Coordinator MUN Directorate).