Provisions of Hyde Act guiding force behind nuke deal: CPI(M)

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The CPI(M) has alleged that the provisions of the Hyde Act and not the assurances made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament were shaping the course of the Indo-US nuclear deal through the various stages.

The party strongly criticised Dr Singh for his assurances and promises made in Parliament on the deal as all of them were proving to be hollow.

The CPI(M), in a press statement issued here today, said the Safeguards Agreement with India, endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) Board of Governors yesterday has made it clear that 14 Indian civilian nuclear facilities would come under the perpetual IAEA Safeguards from 2009.

It said the interpretation of the Indian government regarding the ''corrective measures'' mentioned in the Preamble of the Safeguards Agreement providing for a check against disruption of fuel supplies does not hold, as has been made clear by the IAEA.

The CPI(M) statement quoted IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed El Baradei as saying, ''As with other Safeguards Agreements between the agency and member States, the (Indian) agreement is of indefinite duration. There are no conditions for the discontinuation of safeguards other than those provided by the Safeguards Agreement itself. The termination provisions contained in the Agreement are the same as for other 66 type Agreements.'' It only proves that the Safeguards Agreements could only be terminated under the standard termination conditions contained in Article 29 and 32 of the Agreement, implying that nuclear facilities could be withdrawn from safeguards only after these facilities were no longer usable for any nuclear activity.

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