The Hindu : National : Bill not acceptable, says CPI(M)

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Saturday, Nov 18, 2006
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Bill not acceptable, says CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal Bill as passed by the Senate was not acceptable but it would await the process of reconciliation of the Bill in the U.S. Congress.

General secretary Prakash Karat said the Bill in the current form contained provisions that were objectionable. Even the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed concern over them.

Congress welcomes move

Welcoming the Senate move, the Congress said it had no reason to be pessimistic about it as long as the process moved forward and ultimately came out right on the touchstone of the July 2005 declaration.

"We welcome it in particular because the July 2005 declaration in the Congress party's view reflects the three Es of Energy, Equality and Engagement. All three Es are of benefit to India, for India and by India," spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

Mr. Singhvi said the party believed that the Bill was a pioneering initiative in civilian nuclear energy. Hence, the first `E.' In order to build up the resources and facilities of the vital energy source in India, it was necessary and imperative that proper supply reached the energy-producing centres in a timely manner.

The second `E' was that India entered the process with its head held high on terms of equality to continue to occupy rightful place in the comity of nations. There was no element even remotely smacking of one-sidedness.

The Bill engaged India in the entire community of nations and with the nuclear suppliers group in particular and integrated the country into the global machinery for exchange of nuclear fuel to create nuclear energy.

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