The Hindu : National : Rice has spilled the beans, says BJP

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Rice has spilled the beans, says BJP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party said on Friday that the recent statement of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice vindicated its stand that the Hyde Act over-rides the India-U.S. nuclear deal.

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar pointed out that the government was all along saying that the Hyde Act was an internal matter of the U.S. government and India was concerned only with the 123 Agreement.

Now, Ms. Rice had very clearly stated that any agreement between India and the Nuclear Suppliers Group would be acceptable to the U.S. only if it complied fully with the Hyde Act.

“It will have to be completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act,” Ms. Rice was reported to have told a panel.

Mr. Javadekar pointed out that while the Government of India’s concern may be energy security, the U.S. concern was always strategic.

The primary objective of the Hyde Act was to cap India’s nuclear programme and that was why the BJP opposed the deal.

On Karnataka Assembly elections, Mr. Javadekar expressed the view that the Election Commission did have enough time to complete its work according to the delimitation map before May 28, when the current term of President’s Rule in the State comes to an end.

No comment: MEA

PTI reports:

India on Friday declined comment on Ms. Rice’s remark. “I don’t want to hazard guesswork on this. I have seen the statement in newspapers. If we have a response or a statement, we will put it out. I don’t have it today,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.

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