PM misguiding country on N-deal: Sudershan

Nagpur, Oct 5 (UNI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudershan today alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was 'misguiding' the nation on the provisions of the nuclear deal.

Addressing the annual Dussera rally of the organisation here, Mr Sudershan said the decision by the 45-national Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to lift a three-decade old global ban on nuclear trade with India was not without strings. India has had to give a specific assurance that it would not conduct nuclear tests in lieu of the deal, he said.

If India went back on its assurance and conducted a nuclear test, the country would face sanctions, Mr Sudershan said. Therefore, Dr Singh's assertion that there was no restriction on India's right to conduct nuclear tests, was a blatant lie, he alleged. Lashing out at the Prime Minister, Mr Sudershan said the head of the incumbent government was entering into agreements with the United States, that would harm India's economic and strategic interests. India planned to buy ten Atomic reactors from the US, and the price of power from them would be Rs 2.70 per unit, the Sarsanghachalak said, adding that the actual rate would be Rs 9 per unit if the cost of disposing the nuclear waste was taken into account.

Three letters of intent awaiting signatures from the two countries were for Logistic Support Agreement, Communications Inter-Operatibility Agreement and End Use Monitoring Agreement, Mr Sudershan said. Under the Logistic Support Agreement, the two countries could use the logistical infrastructure of each other, but it would only benefit the US, he said.

Under the second, India would have to fit communication equipment compatible with those of the US, on aircraft and ships that were bought from the latter, Mr Sudershan said. This would create a security risk, he pointed out. As per the End Use Monitoring Agreement, aircraft and ships bought from the US could be inspected any time by experts from that country, he said.

''I request the Prime Minister, with folded hands, not to sign these agreements that would threaten the country's security and safety,'' the Sarsanghachalak added.

BJP President Rajnath Singh was prominent among those who attended the rally this evening.

UNI AB OBB SY BST2337