India to do tough talks with US to protect nuke swaraj: PM

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) Allaying apprehensions over certain provisions of the new US law, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured the Lok Sabha that India was geared for tough talks with the US to protect its ''nuclear swaraj.'' Leader of Opposition L K Advani ''need not worry about India losing its nuclear swaraj. Safeguarding the autonomy of the strategic programme is a solemn duty of this government,'' Dr Singh said in his intervention in a debate on the issue.

At the same time, he said, ''Clearly, difficult negotiations lie ahead'' with the United States as ''there are areas (in the new US law) which cause us concern'' and clarifications would be sought on these.

The US administration had assured India that it would fully comply with its commitments in the July 18, 2005 and March 2, 2006 joint statements and India's separation plan.

Whether this would materialise or not would very much depend on the 123 Agreement for formally launching bilateral cooperation in civilian nuclear energy. The negotiations on the agreement were yet to begin and ''you can judge us from the content of that agreement when the time comes,'' he said.

The legislation passed in the US Congress was merely aimed at enabling the US administration to negotiate with India and conclude the 123 Agreement, he explained and assured the House that nothing would be done at the back of Parliament.

Unlike the previous NDA government, which was holding secret talks with the then US Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, Dr Singh said he had taken the Parliament and the nation into confidence at every stage of negotiations.

The US law...picking up from para one of PAR37, NUCLEAR-PM TWO LS.

UNI SN RP KN1942