NSG waiver is a slap on the face of Opposition: Congress

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) Claiming that it was the best of deals ever done in the nuclear energy sector in the world, the Congrss today said the NSG waiver to India for global nuclear trade was ''yet another slap on the face of the Opposition.'' AICC General Secretary in charge of Media Veerappa Moily told mediapersons that the NSG waiver was a ''distinguished development'' which accorded a ''very special status'' to India.

''This is one of the greatest events in the 21st century. India has been given a de facto nuclear power status,'' he said.

''It is a great event that 45 countries agreed to a clean waiver to India, without asking it to sign NPT," he said, pointing out that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) did not put any condition.

Saying that it had dealt yet another blow on the face of the Opposition, AICC Spokesman Manish Tewari asserted that "this ends the misinformation campaign that the UPA government is compromising sovereignty of the country." He said the NSG waiver would end 34 years of nuclear apartheid, safeguarding India's strategic autonomy.

Mr Tewari expressed the hope that the 123 agreement would get consummated in its entirety in the next 45 days.

UNI SH ARB CS1900