V P Singh cautions against rushing into 123 agreement with US

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today cautioned against rushing into signing the 123 agreement with the United States and called for consensus through a Parliamentary resolution before any definitive action is taken.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr V P Singh said the 123 agreement, read in conjunction with the Hyde Act, did not provide any confidence that India's legitimate concerns would be adequately addressed.

Of equal importance were the implications of the agreement on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project and India's closer involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Moreover, the Hyde Act, which is the India-specific US law, was more explicit with regard to Iran.

''Should we enter into an agreement that may or may not provide energy security, but on the other hand threatens energy-related agreements with our neighbours,'' he asked .

Pointing out that the agreement '''binds'' India for 40 years and ties it to international safeguards and inspections in perpetuity, the former Prime Minister said any haste in agreeing to it under extraneous considerations or pressures, would be an ''act of treachery'' towards future generations.

He said the agreement was far too serious to be left solely to the executive and the Government of the day.

''I am firmly of the opinion that there should be consensus reflected through a Parliamentary resolution before any definitive action is taken,'' he said.

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