Govt rules out JPC on Indo-US nuke deal

New Delhi, Aug 31: The UPA Government today categorically ruled out constitution of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying never in the history of Indian Parliament an external agreement has been subjected to parliamentary scrutiny.

Replying to the BJP-led Opposition demand for setting up the JPC to review the 123 agreement between India and United States, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, ''No international agreement has ever been subjected to any parliamentary scrutiny since 1950.... even in respect of Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty in 1971, the House was only informed after conclusion'' of the treaty.

Strongly rebutting the Opposition demand for setting up the JPC, the Minister said the constitution has not vested any power with Parliament to set up any parliamentary committee to scrutinise any agreement India has entered with a foreign country.

Amid uproarious scenes, Mr Mukherjee, speaking high pitch in an effort to be heard over the din, declared '' No JPC on Indo-Soviet (faux pause) nuclear deal.'' When deputy leader of BJP V K Malhotra again stood up pointing out about his pending privilege notice against the UPA Government on the announcement of constitution of UPA-Left committee not to operationalise the nuke deal when the House is in session, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the notice received by him today was under his consideration and he will give his ruling. But when dissatisfied BJP members started walking towards the well of the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1200 hrs.

LS Earlier, Parlaimentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi, responding to Opposition's vociferous charge against UPA-Left deal and constitution of their joint committee not to opertionalise the nuke deal, said since it was not a government committee the UPA has not committed any breach of privilege of the House.

He, however, said the Government was committed to debate on the nuclear agreement in the House as also on the statement made on the issue by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He said when there are differences in a coalition, partners try to sort these out and cited the case of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) when BJP's then partners - DMK and TDP - had reservations over the Act. The then (NDA) government came out with a joint session of Parliament (to get its approval for POTA), Mr Dasmunsi added.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, the Prime Minister's statement on the 123 agreement is the property of the House and it will certainly be discussed. On behalf of the Prime Minister, the Minister assured a debate on the nuke deal, adding Leader of the Opposition will be invited to take part in the discussion.

Wondering as to why the BJP was perturbed over a non-governmental committee, Mr Dasmunsi declared ''We can talk a thousand times with the Left (on the nuke deal) ... it is not a government committee...

it is not a government decision ( to set up UPA-Left panel).''

When the House assembled for the day at 1100 hrs, BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra immediately stood up, requesting the Speaker to take the privilege notice he had given against the UPA Government for announcing UPA-Left committee outside the House when Lok Sabha is in sesssion, Mr Chatterjee said it was under his consideration and will be taken up after the Question Hour.

Amid loud protest by BJP and other Opposition members, the Speaker relented and permitted members to make a brief mention about the UPA-Left panel, after reading Mr Malhotra's privilege notice on it.

One after the other, Opposition members strongly objected to the formation of the committee on the deal when the House is seized of the issue. Mr Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD) said no announcement on important policy and other matters can be made outside the House when it is in session. Dubbing the formation of UPA-Left panel an insult of the House, Mr Suman asked if the UPA government was afraid of announcing the formation of the committee in the House. He said since the nuke deal is a national issue all parties should have been associated with the committee. He demanded JPC on it.

Mr Ramji Lal Suman (SP) asked when the House business advisory committee had fixed September 10 for debate on nuclear issue why the UPA-Left panel was formed. He, too, demanded setting up of the JPC to review the nuke deal.

Amid din, one member was heard saying it was not a 'family' matter between the Government and Communists, alleging constitution of the panel amounted to contempt of the House as its formation was announced outside when Lok Sabha is in session. He also raised the demand for JPC.

When Mr Malhotra asked the treasury if the UPA-Left panel will be withdrawn, Mr Dasmunsi stood up and made a categorical announcement saying it is not a government committee. While he dithered on JPC, Mr Pranab Mukerjee later ruled it out.

UNI