Assembly demands Centre to furnish all Parliament details

Kolkata, Aug 1(UNI) The West Bengal Assembly today adopted a motion demanding that the Central government furnish all details in Parliament about the draft India-US nuclear treaty and formulate its policy on the basis of a national consensus.

The motion, moved by CPI(M) member Soumendu Bera, was passed with the help of overwheliming majority of the Left Front even as the Congress and the SUCI opposed it.

Stating that India should not bow down to any US pressure in the bilateral agreement, the motion called for an independent policy on the use of nuclear fuel keeping above the national interest.

" This House categorically states that the people of this country will not accept any attempt to impose conditions by any country on India on the supply of nuclear fuel. It is for the Indian Government to decide independently as to for what nuclear fuel will be used.

The people will not accept any unwanted interference on Indian nuclear programmes in the name of international vigilance, " it said.

Participating in the debate, Housing Minister Goutam Deb said the Centre had promised promised that the text of the agreement would be made available and Left parties hoped that Indian interests would not be compromised by the pact.

Opposing the motion, Congress Legislature Party leader Manas Bhunia said the Prime Minister had already explained in Parliament that the agreement would not hamper national interest. He also said the subject was under the jurisdiction of Parliament and not of a state Assembly.

After Speaker H A Halim announced that the motion had been passed by voice vote, Congress members pressed for a division.

The motion was carried by a margin of 120 votes.

UNI