Not many backers in BJP for Advani's views on nuclear deal

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Leader of Opposition L K Advani's statement that the Indo-US nuclear deal was okay if there was an amendment to India's Atomic Energy Act has not gone down well within his own BJP who may not toe his position publicly.

Informed and influential BJP sources, who were 'aghast' at Mr Advani's pronouncement in the course of an interview at Hyderabad to a Delhi based correspondent yesterday, remarked "this view is not the stated position of the BJP. It also shows his lack of understanding of the entire matter", the sources who wished to remain anonymous told UNI.

Asked if the BJP would support the deal in the national interest if the Government were to come out with a law in accordance with Mr Advani's statement, the sources said it was a decision to be taken at the forum of the party but stopped short of denouncing Mr Advani for airing his 'personal decision'. There are not many takers for Mr Advani's stand at the decision making levels, the sources said.

Mr Advani had stated that the 123 agreement may be acceptable to the BJP if India amended its Atomic Energy Act to ensure strategic independence and non-hindrance in reactor fuel supplies.

As far as the BJP is concerned the only decision that has been taken after a 'well thought out and considered' deliberation was the statement of former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie which had seen the participation of party stalwarts including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Jaswant Singh.

Sources also asserted that the party had problems not just with the the Hyde Act but also the 123 agreement sought to be finalised by the Government. The two laws had imposed certain serious restrictions on India.

It was not just political leaders who were not in agreement with certain provisions of 123 but the top nuclear administrators but top and middle-level scientists who apprehended that it would have 'deleterious effect' upon certain experiments conducted by the nation especially concerning reprocessing of nuclear fuel and production of heavy water.

Not many leaders in the party are willing to speak up on the issue and one office bearer even refused to be drawn into the discussions.

UNI