Advani calls for rejection of Indo-US nuke deal

New Delhi, Dec 18: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today urged the Government to reject the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation deal as there was no consensus on the issue either in Parliament or among the political parties, UPA allies and scientists.

''The Hyde Act puts shackles on India's nuclear capabilities and makes a mockery of all assurances by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh given in Parliament,'' Mr Advani said, adding the patriotic people of the country would not accept the deal.

''We are binding ouselves to humiliating conditions,'' Mr Advani said while initiating a discussion under Rule 193 on Indo-US Nuclear deal in the House.

''The Hyde Act does not square up with the assurances given in Parliament by the Prime Minister,'' he argued.

Mr Advani recalled that the Prime Minister had categorically stated in his Washington press conference shortly before coming to India in July last that unless there was a broad national consensus on the nuclear cooperation, it would not be acceptable. Let alone a broad consensus, there was no consensus at all on the issue, he said.

He charged that India, which had been pursuing an independent foreign policy since 1947, would be mortgaging its policy if it accepted the deal as it was. ''Washington would virtually dictate to India as to what foreign policy it has to pursue because they are giving us nuclear fuel.'' The Leader of the Opposition said that India had always been opposed to signing the NPT or CTBT right from the beginning on the ground that it was discriminatory, but by entering into the nuclear deal with the US, ''the PM is keeping the back door open to bring in NPT.''

UNI

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