India needs no US support for strategic prog: Pranab

New Delhi, Dec 18: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asserted that India would not require the support of the United States for its strategic programmes, but cooperation with the US in civil nuclear energy would help to access technology neeeded for using the mettle of our scientists to the full extent.

''Unless the United States extends such a cooperation, no other country is going to extend it,'' he said, while winding up a four-hour-long debate in the Lok Sabha on the Indo-US Civil Nuclear cooperation.

Referring to criticism from the BJP and the Left allies on the new US legislation, Mr Mukherjee said, ''We need not be unnecessarily agitated over a non-issue.'' In this context, he said, ''the basic issue was whether we were going to maintain the parameters which were clearly indicated in the Joint Statements dated July 18, 2005 and March 2, 2006 and the 123 agreement which we were going to sign.'' Mr Mukherjee said nuclear energy, besides being a cleaner fuel, was going to be a major component in our energy basket. It was also a fact that India accounted for 30 per cent of the world thorium reserve.

''But the biggest block is access to technology.'' ''Our scientists cannot show their mettle to the fullest extend, if this apartheid is not removed.'' ''Though it is true that there was a problem to access technology, equipment and material, we will not compromise our basic national basic interests.''

On the contention of the BJP leader L K Advani that the present government was mortgaging the country's sovereignty, Mr Mukherjee said, ''Congress would be the last political party to do mortgaging of this nation for whose freedom it had fought and later continued the fight against obscurantist forces.'' Replying to a specific allegation, the minister said that it was not correct to say that there could not be any more Pokhran. ''We established our nuclear capability in 1974. What prompted Mr Advani to say that Pokhran is mortgaged for all times to come?'' Clearly stating that the 123 agreement would not cover any of the strategic programmes of the country, Mr Mukherjee asked ''If the civil nuclear agreement with the US would cover strategic programmes, what is the rationality of having a separation plan?...

It cannot be part of the arrangement which we are entering with the US...This is completely a different plan.'' In this context, he said, ''we will carry on our strategic programmes with whatever fuel or material is needed... we don't want their support.'' He said sections 1, 2, 3 of the US law were recommendatory in nature and not mandatory.

''The purpose of this legislation is to provide waiver to enable them to enter into an agreement with India on civil nuclear cooperation.'' Under the US act of 1954, the administration was debarred from being a partner in any nuclear programme with any country which had tested nuclear explosion.

The new US law seeks to give necessary waivers to facilitate a deal with India in civil nuclear cooperation.

''The process is still continuing. Negotiations under sections 1, 2, 3 of the act are to start,'' he said.

In this context, Mr Mukherjee said, ''All our concerns are to get reflected in 123 agreement which is yet to be done.'' Mr Mukherjee said the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) had to be amended to suit India's requirements. The safeguard requirement of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was also to be India-specific.

Mr Mukherjee asserted that the Manmohan Singh government had been taking Parliament into confidence on the nuclear issue. ''We are not doing anything behind Parliament.'' In this context, he asked the members not to be carried away by emotions.

He assured that the nuclear cooperation with the US would not affect India's three-stage research programme.

The Minister said the government would take care of the concerns expressed by the scientists. ''I assure you that our indigenous develoment programme would not be affected as it is our core strength.''

UNI

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