Advani clarifies his stand on Indo-US nuclear deal

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) Leader of Opposition L K Advani today clarified that his stand on the Indo-US nuclear civil deal was not different from that of the party, saying he had never said the 123 agreement was acceptable to the party in its present form.

Mr Advani, who drew criticism from within the party after his interview in Hyderabad which he alleged was ''sought to be projected as the BJP's volte-face'' from its earlier stated position, said he clarified his position to the BJP Parliamentary Party this morning through a statement.

He said in his interview he had sought to emphasise that the provisions of Hyde Act militate against India's sovereignty, particularly the conduct of foreign policy. When enforced, they will seriously impair the country's nuclear weapons programme, and thereby jeopardise our strategic objectives, he said.

''Actually it was intended to clarify how the BJP's opposition to the agreement stems from considerations of pure national interest and not from any kind of anti-Americanism which may motivate the Left Parties,'' the former deputy prime minister added.

His statement was later released to the media by BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra. The clarification comes in the wake of a meeting of top BJP leaders yesterday.

He said the party cannot accept ''strategic subservience to the US'' and India will have to strengthen its laws and renegotiate the 123 Agreement on that basis.

He said the pact was the first step towards operationalising the Hyde Act and other US laws. Several requirements of those laws have been built into the 123 Agreement which specifically provides for implementing it. ''These facts are indisputable and unacceptable.

They push the country not into 'strategic partnership' with the US but a 'strategic subservience' to the US, which the BJP cannot accept,'' he averred.

Mr Advani said a suggestion was made that India should examine to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to insulate its strategic objectives and strengthen the laws and renegotiate the 123 Agreement.

Mr Advani reiterated the BJP's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to consider the Indo-US nuclear deal and not any mechanism involving only the UPA parties. It is an issue concerning the national interest and it has to involve all parties in Parliament and it cannot be treated as an 'internal affair' of the UPA, he said.

He also sought a Constitutional amendment where it would be mandatory for the Government to seek Parliament's prior approval on all issues concerning India's foreign policy and national interest.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, who was entrusted with the task of coming out with the BJP's line after due deliberations, said he was ''totally satisfied with Mr Advani's statement and he is my leader''.

Confusion over Mr Advani's interview was because a section of the media sought to misinterpret in their own way. ''our policy is governed by supreme national interest'', he remarked.

UNI