One of the reasons--

www.iranexpert.com/2004/china22november.htm

 

Plus access to Afghanistan and keeping Pakistan in tabs. Of course this policy conflicts with the Western world, but I doubt India can say no -beyond some high profile IAEA votes against Iran , Indias dilemna suggest it better join China and Russia as an Iranian supplier or forever lose a strategic and economic foothold. Ploitics makes strange bedfellows.

india is in a different position than china and russia. unlike those two nations, india enjoys the ability to purchase cutting edge weapons from the united states. iran may offer oil, but if this deal goes through, america may not be so willing to provide the weapons that are so essential to indias survival. india can find other suppliers of petroleum but only the US can offer weapons of proven superiority. this is especially important as both china and pakistan are hostile and both are equiped with excellent weaponry.

I would fear loss of cheap natural gas more than loss of Western weaponry. India has 450000 villages and towns, 80% of them need natural gas for cooking a daily meal of vegetable curry. The Indian elite need not fear the West as much as it needs to fear its own populace turning on them in a left wing Maoist style revolt if their little cooking pots do not lite up. Given the choice -choose cheap gas.

Because we all know how much Muslims love Hindis.

 

Go for it, India! Choose as your allies the people who want you converted or dead.