Manmohan Singh to meet nuke scientists on Aug 16

New Delhi, Aug 15: Ahead of the Rajya Sabha discussion on the Indo-US nuclear agreement, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold a meeting tomorrow with scientists in the field, apparently to finalise the government's response on the issue.

Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar would be among the nuclear scientists who would attend the meeting, official sources said today.

The meeting assumes significance in the light of reservations expressed by eminent scientists on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the light of attempts by the US House and Senate committees to shift the goal posts to the detriment of India's interests.

The government has already rejected the opposition demand for adopting a sense of Parliament resolution on the issue, but the matter would come up in the two Houses in the form of a short duration discussion -- on August 17 in the Rajya Sabha and next week in the Lok Sabha.

Dr Singh is expected to make a reply in the two Houses.

The scientists who have voiced their concern include former AEC Chairmen H N Sethna, M R Srinivasan and P K Iyengar. Their objections relate to the infringement on indigenous research and development, perpetual safeguards and Parliament's right to decide the basic principles on which the deal would be implemented.

UNI