Government to face 'nuclear heat' in Parliament

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) The 123 Agreement is likely to generate a lot of heat in Parliament for next two-three days with a united Opposition along with key allies of the ruling coalition the Left parties coming out strongly against the deal even as the government remains firm to see the deal sail through.

The opposition of the Left Parties to the deal has made the task of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh further difficult to defend the deal, although he had categorically conveyed to the Left that they could withdraw their support to the UPA government but there was no question of revisiting the 123 agreement.

The NDA has already threatened to seek suspension of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha tomorrow to discuss the issue under rule 184 and announced that it would disrupt the proceedings if the demand was not met.

Notice for the discussion under rule 184 by the NDA has already reached Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra has said they are going to raise the issue as soon as the House assembles tomorrow.

Similarly, the seven-party United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), has also demanded a discussion under Rule 184, which entails voting.

The Opposition received a shot in the arm when the Left Parties, supporting the Government from outside, also expressed their serious reservations over the Indo-US nuclear deal and said the Government should seek Parliamentary approval on it.

But, its demand for a discussion under Rule 193, which does not entails voting, is being looked as leverage to bail out the Government which has already gone on record that it was ready to have a thorough discussion on the Agreement but not under Rule 184.

The matter is to be decided by the Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman under what rules the issue be discussed.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be making a suo-moto statement on the issue, which is likely to be marked by disruptions particularly from the Opposition benches, if not the Left Parties for ''some reasons''.

In fact, it is very difficult to say what stand the Left Parties are going to take in Parliament on the nuclear deal which they apprehend is against the national interest.

The Government is adamant on the pact which it says earned after tough negotiations. The Government's mood is evident from the Prime Minister's statement, daring the Left Parties to withdraw support, if they wanted so, on the issue, knowing fully well that the Left support is very crucial for the survival of his government.

According to the Prime Minister, the deal will enlarge India's development options, particularly in regard to energy security and environmental protection. Besides it will not affect India's ability to pursue its nuclear weapon programme. ''We have not surrendered an iota of our freedom in this regard, not an iota of our sovereignty.'' But the Prime Minister's claim failed to convince the NDA, UNPA and also the Left Parties which feel that the deal will affect India's nuclear sovereignty and was against national interest.

BJP feels that it would threaten the country's nuclear sovereignty as it would open vital nuclear installations to scrutiny and hence was detrimental to national security.

The Left Parties like the BJP holds the view that majority in Parliament is against the deal. CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat, refusing to buy Dr Singh's claim, has said ''We do not share the optimism that India can become a great power with the help of the United States. The agreement will draw India further into a strategic alliance with the US, rendering it an American satellite.'' The Government will also be taken to task by the Opposition on Goa developments. The NDA is likely to raise the issue very strongly, as it feels that the manner in which the minority Kamath government was helped to retain power, keeping Goa Democratic Alliance under former chief minister Manohar parikkar out, was a clear case of ''murder of democracy'' and unethical.

Other issues which are likely to generate heat during the week in Parliament are farmer's plight, unabated rise in prices of essential commodities, floods, SEZs and FDI in retail.

UNI