With less than a week to go for the International Atomic Energy Association general conference in Vienna, Indian Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar is keeping his options open on discussing safeguards with the nuclear watchdog as he is yet to receive clear-cut instructions on the issue from the Centre.
"I have not received any indication on the topic (from the Centre) till date," Kakodkar said. Kakodkar is scheduled to make his speech at the annual meeting on September 19, two days after the conference begins.
He admitted recently that there were some constraints related to talks on India-specific safeguards, but refused to elaborate. Sources close to Kakodkar, however, said the Indo-US nuclear deal might come up for informal discussions at the conference.
Though the Centre is seeking support for the deal from various quarters despite Left's reservations on it, Kakodkar has not got any information on going ahead with discussions at the IAEA on safeguards pertaining to the Indo-US deal.
The Left parties have made it clear that they would take into consideration the findings of the UPA-Left committee on the nuclear deal before proceeding on the issue of operationalising the agreement. Scientists in favour of the deal are hoping that the Centre may come up with directions just before the IAEA conference to allow Kakodkar to go ahead with talks on the safeguards.