The Hindu : Front Page : Government seeks Left ‘clearance’ to cross IAEA stage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Government seeks Left ‘clearance’ to cross IAEA stage

Vinay Kumar

Left wants further clarifications, will respond later

Clarifications pertain to four crucial areas
Left parties to discuss strategy on May 23

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury after the UPA-Left meeting on the India-U.S. nuclear deal, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: At the eighth meeting of the United Progressive Alliance-Left Committee on New Delhi-Washington civil nuclear cooperation on Tuesday, the government sought Left “clearance” to go ahead with clinching the India-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Seeking further clarifications on the safeguards agreement, the Left parties said they would give their response later. “First, let us get the clarifications before the next meeting and only after that we will let the government know about our response,” a top Left leader told The Hindu after the meeting here, which lasted nearly two hours.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the convener of the committee, read out a brief statement in the presence of CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. “In-depth discussions were held on the India-specific Safeguards Agreement between India and the IAEA. The Left parties have sought clarifications which will be provided in the next few days. Further discussions will be held in the next meeting of the Committee to be held on May 28, 2008.”

The Left parties will meet on May 23 to discuss their strategy.

A senior Left leader said the clarifications pertained to four crucial areas — uninterrupted fuel supply, transfer of technology, reciprocity, and implications of the controversial Hyde Act for India’s independent foreign policy and sovereignty.

‘Progress’

Later, Mr. Yehcury told reporters that the committee had made “progress” and the government would hopefully give clarifications by next week.

Another Left leader said the government indicated that it had a “window of opportunity” to clinch the safeguards agreement with the IAEA by June provided the committee gave it the go- ahead.

However, the Left parties reiterated their opposition to the 123 civil nuclear agreement which, they stressed, was anchored in the Hyde Act that would have implications for India’s strategic interests, security, sovereignty and independent foreign policy.

Though the text of the safeguards agreement negotiated with the IAEA was not available, its broad contours were discussed. A Left leader said: “We wanted to know how far India stands to gain, what are the provisions regarding application, cooperation and termination of the agreement. Certain clauses also need more clarifications which we have asked for.”

All members of the committee, except Minister of State for Personnel Prithviraj Chavan, who was out of station, attended the meeting. Leaders of the four Left parties, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal were among those who attended.

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

Front Page