CPI(M) stand on nuke deal remains unchanged

New Delhi, Aug 14: Sticking to its stand that the government should refrain from proceeding with operationalising the 123 agreement, the CPI(M) today contended that Prime Minister Mamohan Singh's statement in Parliament did not address the Left concerns on at least five counts.

''The Prime Minister's statement in Parliament does not shed any new light on the India-US Nuclear Agreement that calls for a re-assessment on our part. He has reiterated his position on the agreement and has not addressed the issues that we have raised,'' the party Polit Buerau said in a statement.

It said the Left's concerns over the deal's impact on India's independent foreign policy, US President's obligation on annual certification, lifetime security for nuclear fuel, full access to technology for the fuel cycle, the right to reprocess spent fuel and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) bestowing right to nuclear fuel and technology were still unanswered.

The statement came even as Dr Manmohan Singh met party General Secretary Prakash Karat over breakfast this morning to ease out the UPA-Left logjam over the Pact.

The CPI(M), which is holding its Polit Bureau meeting here on August 17 and 18, said, ''The issue is not what the Prime Minister is saying but what his Government is doing. The Defence Framework Agreement of 2005, the Logistics Support Agreement being negotiated currently, joint naval exercises being planned and the stand on the Iran nuclear issue are there before us. Therefore, it is difficult to agree with the Prime Minister that this agreement has no impact on our independent foreign policy, especially when the US officials are busy selling the agreement to the US Congress on the strategic value of India aligning with the US as a consequence of the agreement.'' According to the statement, the annual certification is an obligation of the US President, which he is bound to fulfil. Thus, the Prime Minister's saying that the certification does not find a place in the 123 Agreement, is not relevant.

''The issue that we have raised is if a 'good conduct certificate' is not forthcoming or if the US Congress does not accept the good conduct certificate given, what would be the implications for the 123 Agreement.'' ''In our understanding, the US could terminate the Agreement with all its consequences for our civilian nuclear energy programme,'' the statement said.

Explaining as to why the party thinks that life term security for nuclear fuel has not been achieved in this Agreement, the statement said what India has are assurances while the Hyde Act contains the provisions, which would cut in if the US terminates the Agreement.

''Under the Hyde Act, if this agreement is terminated, the US would not help India tide over the 'disruption' but would be obligated to work with the NSG countries to stop all supplies.'' On the issue of full access to technology for the fuel cycle, which Dr Singh had assured Parliament of earlier, it is now clear that this will not be available to India.

According to the party statement, the gains made with regard to right to reprocess spent US fuel, is only a notional right at present and subject to conditions that may emerge in the future.

Expressing his belief that the NSG would give unrestricted right to nuclear fuel and technology to India, Dr Singh had said ''the Nuclear Suppliers Group has to agree, by consensus, to adapt its guidelines, we expect without conditions, to enable nuclear commerce with India and to dismantle the restrictions on the transfer of dual use technologies and items to our country.'' ''We see no basis for his continued optimism in this regard, particularly as the NSG functions on the basis of consensus and the US is supposed to steer the change of Guidelines on our behalf,'' the CPI(M) said.

UNI