PM says national interest paramount, warns US against changes in N-pact

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday ruled out the possibility of accepting anything that undermines the country's nuclear programme. He said that the government would not accept any conditionalities that go beyond the last year's deal with the US or this year's separation plans.

"If something is enforced on us in separation (plans of nuclear facilities)  or other areas  government will draw the necessary conclusion consistent with India's national interests," he said  in his reply lasting more than an hour winding up a day-long discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

He, however, did not elaborate what the conclusion will be.

Allaying concerns of the members of the Opposition and the allied Left parties and the nuclear scientific community of threats to the indigenous nuclear programme, the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasised that nothing would be done to sacrifice its independent nuclear programme or the country's sovereign foreign policy.

He also made it clear to Washington that India would oppose any move to impose annual certification by the American President for implementation of the deal.

"We will not accept any condition that goes beyond the parameters of July 18,2005 joint statement and the March 2, 2006, Separation Plan agreed to between India and the US," he said in a speech-tinged with emotion.

"If the US legislation or the nuclear suppliers group impose extraneous conditions, government will draw the necessary conclusion consistent with my commitments to Parliament and the people," he said.

On the question of annual certification by the US President, Singh said "we have made it clear to the US our opposition to it... There is also an element of uncertainty and, therefore, it is not acceptable to us."