123 agreement is independent of Hyde Act: Congress

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Congress today asserted that the 123 agreement on Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation has nothing to do with the Hyde Act, whose provisions would not be binding on India either. "No international agreement can be subject to national laws. Therefore, the 123 agreement is independent of the Hyde Act," National Media Committee Convener and Union Minister Kapil Sibal told mediapersons here.

The Left parties are opposing the deal mainly on the provisions of the Hyde Act which, according to them, would have overriding powers impinging on India's independent foreign policy and sovereignty.

The pointed out that the 123 agreement was signed under the Atomic Energy Act of the US.

He said the United States had also signed an agreement with China on nuclear cooperation, but China did not enjoy the right to reprocess. However, India would get assured supply of nuclear fuel and nuclear reactors, besides enjoying the right to reprocess spent fuel. There was no need for any apprehension about India continuing with its weapons programme, he asserted.

Replying to a question, he said the Congress always worked towards protecting the interests of the country. "We have no skeletons to hide...We are open and ready for debate on anything in the interests of the nation." In this context, he said if the Left parties still had any doubt over the 123 agreement, the government would be willing to debate.

"The Left is an integral part of the government. We have a lot of regard for them. We want to move forward with them." Asked to comment on the statement of the Left leaders that their honeymoon with the UPA government was over following differences on the Indo-US nuclear pact, Mr Sibal said, "I don't want to trivialise such a serious issue." Asked if the Congress Party was prepared for a snap poll in the event of the Left Parties withdrawing support, he initially dismissed it as a hypothetical question. He, however, added later that any political party should be ready for an election any time.

Mr Sibal said the UPA government was stable and would survive its full term. "There is no question of rocking the boat." On the demand of the BJP to leave the issue of Indo-US agreement to a Parliamentary Committee, he said "no international treaty signed is subjected to scrutiny by any committee of the Parliament."

UNI