The Hindu : Front Page : UPA-Left talks on nuclear deal constructive, says Pranab

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Thursday, Sep 20, 2007
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UPA-Left talks on nuclear deal constructive, says Pranab

Vinay Kumar

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

After the parleys: United Progressive Alliance and Left leaders (from left) Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury, Kapil Sibal, Lalu Prasad, T.R. Baalu, Saiffudin Soz and Prakash Karat after the UPA-Left meeting on the India-United States nuclear deal at External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s residence in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The United Progressive Alliance-Left committee on the nuclear deal with the United States, at its second meeting here on Wednesday, discussed a “number of issues” and decided to hold talks again on October 5. The first meeting took place on September 11.

Describing the talks as constructive, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said these were largely based on the notes exchanged.

Last week, the Left parties submitted a note to the government and the latter gave its reply on Monday. On Wednesday, the Left parties came out with a 12-page note in response to the government’s reply.

“We covered some ground and the discussions mainly focussed on the Hyde Act and its implications on the country’s self-reliant nuclear programme and the 123 agreement,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat told The Hindu after the two-hour meeting.

Both sides explained their positions, said Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja.

“Discussions are progressing; there is no need for showing any hurry,” CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said when asked about Mr. Karat’s warning to the government on Tuesday to put on hold operationalisation of the deal at least for six months.

Union Ministers Lalu Prasad, T.R. Baalu, Kapil Sibal and Saiffudin Soz were present at the meeting.

Many provisions of the Hyde Act are contrary to the promises made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in August 2006. Under the terms set out by the Act, it was clear that the cooperation would not cover the entire nuclear fuel cycle. It denied cooperation or access in any form whatsoever to fuel enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production technologies, Left sources said. “The denial extends to transfer of dual use technology and covers items that could be used in fuel enrichment, reprocessing or heavy water production facilities. The contentious provisions remain in the Hyde Act Section 102 (13) and Section 103 (a)(6), Section 104g (2) E(i) and a few other Sections to which we object and want a clarification.”

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