Take opposition into confidence on nuclear bill: NCP tells govt

Sharad Pawar's NCP, a key partner in the government, today said that the nuclear liability bill should be passed by taking the opposition parties into confidence.

"We are in favour of passage of the bill by taking the Opposition in confidence," NCP general secretary DP Tripathi told reporters here when asked to comment the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 which has kicked off a political storm.

He said suppliers of nuclear equipment and all sections related to it should be properly covered and there should be no compromise with national interest.

A fresh controversy has broken out after the government circulated the amendments to the bill approved by the Union
cabinet among members of Parliament.
  
Both the BJP and the Left parties have said that the new amendments approved by the government further dilute the
liability of suppliers of equipment to nuclear plants and were
not acceptable to them.

Minister of state in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan had said that he was open to suggestions from opposition parties on the amendments to the bill.

The bill expected to be moved in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passing tomorrow.