'Pokhran bomb not BJP govt creation, nuke deal will help India'

Sarnath, Varanasi, Aug 25 (UNI) Claiming the atom bomb tested by the Vajpayee government in 1998 was developed by previous non-BJP governments, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today said the 123 Indo-US nuke deal will not undermine the country's nuclear weapon capability but will support infrastructural development.

''The bomb tested at Pokhran in 1998 by the Vajpayee government was not developed by it but was developed by the previous non-BJP governments at the centre,'' Mr Prasad said while interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the 6th RJD National Convention here.

About the 123 nuke deal, he said ''it will usher much needed infrastructural development in the country and in no way undermine the nuclear weapon capability of India.'' Casting away left parties apprehensions about the deal ompromising India's sovereignty before the US, Mr Prasad said ''it will not do so. On the contrary it will help us fulfill our growing energy requirements, by assisting in the generation of pollution ree nuclear electricity which is a must for the infrastructural development of the country.'' ''Left's apprehensions per se Hyde Act were also Baseless as provisions of the act are not mandatory in India's case. Besides, the deal now goes to the IAEA for discussions where US will help India's interests in case of disagreement over the deal among member nations, Mr prasad added.

''Besides, India can easily walk out of the deal by giving an year's notice in advance if it thinks its national interests were being imperilled. China had struck a similar deal a decade ago and now India must also go ahead with it for national development.'' UNI