Political parties divided on nuclear deal

Political parties are sharply divided on the Indo-US nuclear deal with Opposition BJP stating that it will impact on the country's right to conduct atomic tests while the Congress terming it as a historic pact that recognises India as a nuclear power.

Yashwant Sinha, who was one of the top four BJP leaders to attend a specially-convened meeting at the residence of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajayee to discuss the text of the agreement 123, said many of the issues that the party had raised in July 2005 through Vajpayee still remained outstanding.

Others who attended the meeting included Leader of Opposition L K Advani, who was briefed by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan two days ago and Jaswant Singh.

Talking about the discussion, he said the Hyde Act still remained a major road block. "They cannot leave the national nuclear policy for a bilateral agreement," Sinha said.

"Looking at the text of 123 Agreement I can only say that our reservations have proved correct. Vajpayee had issued a statement in 2005 after the announcement of the agreement and he had expressed serious concern about India's nuclear weapon's programme.

This deal ensures to restrict India's weapon's programme somehow. I can say that after reading the text of the agreement out concern remains. In fact it has multiplied. We are concerned that this agreement will have impact on our nuclear weapon's programme," he said.

The party made it clear that they will raise the issue on the opening day of Parliament. "The prime minister has sought to address CPM's concerns or the concerns of the scientific community but not the issues raised by us," Yashwant Sinha said.

On the other hand, Congress said the agreement recognizes New Delhi as de facto nuclear power without 'rightfully' signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty and insisted that it was the 'best possible deal' for the country.

The effect of the 'historic' deal will be translated in the next few decades and generations in the country, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told media persons in New Delhi.

Left parties chose to reserve their comments, saying they have to analyse the finer points of the deal, of which the text was released, and consult scientists before coming out with a formal reaction.

"The text (of the agreement) has just been released. We will not say anything before studying it thoroughly. Left leaders are meeting here next week and probably we will react after that," CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.

Nationalist Congress Party general secretary D P Tripathi held it as a 'very positive development,' which was in the national interest as well as for international cooperation.

Additional Reportage: PTI