As the Congress braces to counter Opposition onslaught on the nuclear liability bill, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon today briefed some senior party leaders on the benefits of the legislation and the necessity for bringing it.
The bill is a key step for operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear deal.
The bill, which provides for compensation in the event of a nuclear mishap and the modalities involved, was slated to be introduced in Lok Sabha yesterday but the government decided against it at the last moment in view of stiff opposition from Left parties, BJP and SP.
These parties have been objecting to the provision under which the liability will be capped at Rs 500 crore and the entire amount would have to be paid by the Indian operator while the foreign supplier would go "scot-free". UPA ally Trinamool Congress is also said to have reservations over the bill.
During the hour long briefing, Menon explained to the Congress leaders the need to introduce the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill. He also apprised them of the advantages of the proposed legislation.
With regard to the Opposition attack over the cap on compensation, Menon told the Congress leaders that the apprehensions were unfounded as there was provision for giving relief at three stages.
Those briefed included Union ministers Kapil Sibal, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Prithviraj Chavan, Congress spokespersons Manish Tewari and Jayanti Natarajan, RashidAlvi, Sandeep Dikshit, Rajiv Shukla and Mausam Noor. Significantly, most of these Congress leaders interact with media often.
"We ourselves wanted to understand the procedure for liability as lot of misconceptions are being created on the bill," said one of the party leaders who attended the meeting.
After the briefing, the Congress leader said that there is no cap on liability in the bill as being alleged by the Opposition parties. "The bill rather provides for a three tier liability structure," he said.
To a question whether the NSA will also brief the allies or Opposition leaders over the Bill, the Congress leader said, "if the need arises obviously".
Asked about the Trinamool's opposition to the move, the Congress leader expressed the confidence that the UPA ally will come on board.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari meanwhile said it is improper for BJP to criticise the bill as the process and proceedings for bringing in this nuclear regime commenced during NDA rule.
About Left's opposition, Tewari said since they had opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal, they are now trying to stall every consequential bill.
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