The Hindu : National : Remove fears on nuclear deal, says SP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 30, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Remove fears on nuclear deal, says SP

Special Correspondent

BSP wants Centre to hold all-party meet

123 agreement is the single most dangerous issue: TDP
BJD wants a JPC to discuss the deal

NEW DELHI: Demanding that the government remove all apprehensions about the controversial India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should take the initiative to enlist the support of the people and Parliament for the deal.

“I want to know if after this agreement, we will have to follow American dictates and whether we will have to share information with America about all the civil and military activities taking place at our nuclear reactors. This is the biggest hurdle in this Agreement,” he said.

Mr. Yadav was participating in a debate on the deal in the Lok Sabha.

He said the country had large reserves of uranium and thorium and “though we would be able to produce sufficient hydro and thermal power by 2020, the generation of atomic energy would not constitute more than 5 to 6 per cent of the total energy.”

Mr. Yadav said the most important aspect of the 123 agreement was that India would be self-sufficient in the field of energy. Referring to the high cost of atomic energy, he wondered how the government was going to supply it to the poor.

“So far as nuclear testing is concerned, if we think it is in the interest of our country then this deal or agreement cannot prevent us from testing,” Mr. Yadav said.

Brajesh Pathak of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) said there were many misconceptions about the deal in the minds of the people and demanded that the government clear all doubts and fears.

He reiterated the BSP stand that there should be a national consensus on such a crucial and sensitive deal. “In matters relating to the country’s security, there should be oneness among all the people and the Centre should ensure this unity.”

Pointing out that American officials were linking the deal with the Iranian gas pipeline, Mr. Pathak wanted the government to pay attention to this aspect as well.

He argued that the U.S. should display its desire to strengthen ties by offering India permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council, complete with veto power. The government should hold an all-party meeting on the deal.

D. K. Audikesavulu of the Telugu Desam Party described the 123 agreement as the “single most dangerous issue,” as it impinged upon national sovereignty. Biju Janata Dal’s Bhartuhari Mahtab wanted a Joint Parliamentary Committee to discuss the deal.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National