Indian gov't rules out going back on Indo-US nuke deal
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Dec 12, IRNA
India-US-Nuke deal-Gov't
Key allies of the Congress-led United (Progressive Alliance (UPA), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), attacked the Indo-US nuclear deal, but the government and Congress Tuesday ruled out going back on it.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in the Rajya Sabha last session was cited by the government to allay fears in different quarters on the issue.
"I don't think it has become a non-starter. We are on the verge of creating history through this Indo-US agreement," Congress spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi told reporters.
He made the remarks when asked whether the saffron party's demand for rejection of the deal and the CPI(M) position that it was not acceptable in the current form had made the venture infructuous.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi, talking to reporters separately, referred to the prime minister's statement in the Rajya Sabha in the last session in which he declared that the US legislation on nuclear cooperation with India will not be allowed to become an instrument to compromise the country's sovereignty.
Singh had also hinted at a possible re-look if "extraneous conditions" are imposed.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukhejree would make a statement on the agreement in parliament tomorrow as he could not do so due to the disruption today.
Dasmunsi said two days -- December 18 and 19 -- have been reserved for a discussion on the deal.
Meanwhile, government sources said that the hardline stance of the BJP and CPI(M) could turn out to be a blessing in disguise as it would give India the much needed leeway for insisting on a final agreement that would be acceptable to all here.
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