Indo-U.S nuclear deal is historic: Sibal
Bangalore, Sep 18 (UNI) Strongly defending the Indo-U.S Nuclear deal and its related 123 agreement, Union minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal today said that the visit of Atomic Commission Chief Anil Kakodkar to Vienna demonstrated UPA government's commitment to the deal.
Speaking to newsmen here today Mr Kapil, who was on nationwide campaign trail on the controversial deal emphasised that taking into consideration of the country's future energy needs the UPA government felt that it was an opportunity.
Terming it as a 'historic opportunity' the minister maintained that to sustain the 8 to 9 per cent of annual GDP growth country need to exploit the Nuclear energy option which would be extremely critical in meeting the demand supply gap of power.
Brushing aside the fears that signing of the deal would result in the country surrender its right weaponise and continue with its uranium enrichment programme, Mr Sibal stressed that UPA government had only pursued the previous NDA government's initiative on Nuclear cooperation with the US.
Coming
down
heavily
on
the
Left
parties
that
were
opposing
the
nuclear
deal,
Mr
Sibal
stated,
"Clearly,
the
Left's
opposition
on
the
123
agreement
is
for
oppositions'
sake.
If
they
have
a
hidden
agenda,
the
people
of
this
country
must
know
it.
If
they
are
anti-America
and
they
don't
want
to
deal
with
them
on
that
account,
that
also
should
be
made
clear
to
the
people
of
this
country.
We
want
to
work
with
the
Left
and
provide
a
stable
government
till
its
full
term.
We
await
their
response." MORE
UNI