NEW DELHI : A day after India and the United States signed agreements on nuclear energy cooperation and other areas, the Left parties, the Samajwadi Party, the Telugu Desam and the Biju Janata Dal asked in the Lok Sabha how the accords served the national interest.

"When lakhs of people were demonstrating against the visit of U.S. President George Bush, nuclear and other agreements were finalised keeping Parliament and the country in the dark. ... How is it historic," CPI (M) leader Basudeb Acharia asked on Friday.

Mr. Acharia pointed out that the U.S. President said the nuclear deal was in Washington's interest and expressed confidence that he could sell it to the U.S. Congress.

Also, the Indo-U.S Knowledge Initiative in Education and Research and on Biotechnology would open up India to agriculture multinationals such as Monsanto and Wal Mart, Mr. Acharia said and demanded a discussion.

Ramjilal Suman (SP) sought to know whether the Government signed the agreements under pressure, while Rup Chand Pal (CPI-M) said that according to reports "for all practical purposes, India has been brought under the NPT."

Defence Minister and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said that since the Bush visit was still on, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would make a statement next week.

Later at a press conference, the CPI (M) leaders asked the Government to assure the people that the independence of India's nuclear programme and the principle of reciprocity were maintained while signing the nuclear agreement.

The party sought an explanation whether the agreement on science and technology cooperation in agriculture and biotechnology would protect the interests of the vast majority of Indian peasantry and the farm sector.

"We hope that three fundamental principles have been adhered to while signing the nuclear agreement. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to support the agreement," the party leaders Nilotpal Basu, Mr. Acharia and Mr. Pal said.

Maintaining the independence of India's nuclear programme, the principle of reciprocity and the separation of civilian and military facilities should be a sovereign decision.

In separate statements, the CPI (ML) and the CPI (ML-New Proletarian) criticised the nuclear agreement as "a historic surrender" and as a "nuclear energy slavery award by Bush."

"It is an agreement that ultimately serves the U.S. interests as Mr. Bush clearly stated... the way the Indian establishment is boasting about keeping the eight fast breeder plants out of international inspection, elevation to the nuclear big club and $ 100 billion worth of new opportunities in India's energy sector is neither going to serve national interests nor its relations with the countries under imperialist domination," CPI (ML) secretary K.N. Ramachandran said.

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