BJP asks PM to clarify how nuke deal is beneficial to country

BJP today said with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) reneging on its waiver on nuclear fuel supply to India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should clarify how the nuke deal- which he had "gone on his knees" to get from the US- will now be beneficial to the country.

"This is an important issue which also has a historic background. We believe that the historic waiver given to India by the Nuclear Suppliers Group now stands punctured. We want a clarification from the Prime Minister on the Indo-US Civil nuclear deal which he had gone on his knees to sign," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

He maintained that the NSG has "reneged" on its promise after the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Deal was signed and is now insisting that for any ENR- Enrichment and Nuclear Reprocessing- the beneficiary country has to be a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

BJP said that in 2008 when the historic nuclear deal was signed between US President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government had claimed that the deal is important for meeting the power requirements of the nation.

"It was said that by 2015, we would produce 15,000 MW energy, and 30,000 MW by 2030. It was said that two lakh of the six lakh Indian villages, which do not have power today, would get it," Rudy said.

The opposition maintained that the Agreement was signed with the US after the UPA government got it passed and ratified by Parliament, though Left parties withdrew support.

"The BJP had then called the Agreement- signed at midnight- as the "midnight deceit". We had said the government has compromised on the strategic autonomy of the country and the country has been betrayed," Rudy said.