123 Agreement affects India's right to nuclear testing: Sinha

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today said the 123 agreement in regard to Indo-US nuclear deal would affect India's right to nuclear testing, even as senior BJP leaders began deliberations this evening at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence to formalise the party's official reaction to the deal.

The text of the nuclear agreement with the United States confirmed BJP's fears that India's right to nuclear testing will be impacted, said Mr Sinha.

When pointed out that the text is silent on nuclear testing, Mr Sinha said the text says issues not covered in it will be subject to US national laws. It is understood what is left uncovered in the text will be taken care of by the Hyde Act which was passed in December last by the US Congress.

The Hyde Act authorises the US President discretionary powers to terminate the deal if India conducts a nuclear test.

Experts said the agreement is the child of the Hyde Act and not the other way round and hence the text of the agreement should be interpreted in conjunction with the Hyde Act to arrive at the right picture.

Earlier, a BJP spokesman in the party's initial reaction said that all its concerns about the national interests had not been fully met in the text of the 123 agreement. He said senior party leaders were meeting at Mr Vajpayee's residence to formalise the party's reaction on the nuclear deal.

The BJP delegation led by Mr Vajpayee had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week and conveyed that India's nuclear sovereignty and strategic interests must be protected in the 123 agreement.

UNI