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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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UPA-Left talks on nuclear deal continue

Gargi Parsai

No formal talks with IAEA, panel told

NEW DELHI: The government has held no formal talks yet with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on India specific safeguards, the United Progressive Alliance-Left Committee on the India-United States nuclear agreement was told at its fourth meeting here on Friday.

After the two-hour meeting, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: “The meeting carried forward the earlier discussions on the basis of inputs provided by both sides.”

“It was held in a cordial atmosphere. The next meeting is slated for October 9,” he said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said the Left parties gave a note on the implications of the nuclear deal on India’s foreign policy and security matters.

The discussions on the Hyde Act and its implications continued at the meet.

D. Raja of the Communist Party of India said the meeting was informed that there had been no formal discussions so far with the IAEA. According to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the talks were held in a “cordial” atmosphere.

Debabrata Biswas of the Forward Bloc said the understanding was that until the final findings of the committee were out, the government would not go ahead with the India-U.S. nuclear deal.

Left rebuttal

The Left parties tabled a “rebuttal” to the UPA’s response to their note on the Hyde Act and its implications, around which Friday’s discussions were held.

Earlier, Mr. Mukherjee had a luncheon strategy meeting with the UPA members of the panel. The Left parties also met before the committee meeting and reiterated their stand on the deal.

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