Sonia hails PM for Indo-US nuclear deal

NEW DELHI: Even as the Left parties have sought to put the Government in the dock on the nuclear deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team of 'able negotiators' for hammering a treaty that 'satisfies all the conditions' laid out before Parliament.
   
"... India and the US have signed a historic 123 agreement that lifts the decades-old embargo against nuclear trade with India. This will allow India to expand its energy sector to meet the growing demands of our economic growth and put an end to the power shortages that we are all familiar with," she said.

In a 'Letter to Congress Workers', Gandhi said, "We congratulate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team of able negotiators who have hammered a treaty that satisfies all the conditions laid out before Parliament and brought home an agreement that is in the long term in the interest of India."

Ahead of the debate in Parliament, Gandhi also told partymen in the letter that throughout the negotiations with the US, Parliament, UPA allies, Left parties and the Opposition parties have been 'kept informed'.

"We have negotiated with America keeping our national interests in the forefront and India's nuclear defence programme has been in no way undermined," she said in the letter in the latest issue of party journal `Congress Sandesh'. Noting that the agreement will help the country expand power generation for its agricultural sector and the growing industrial sector, Gandhi said the deal is a recognition of the achievements of India's scientists who have worked diligently to keep the indigenous nuclear programme alive.

In an apparent dig at the BJP-led NDA over frequent disruptions of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Gandhi expressed hope that the Opposition will use Parliament to air their differences and "we will see less unnecessary House adjournments that waste precious time and the tax-payer's money".

Referring to the 60th anniversary of Independence, Gandhi said India has much to be proud of as a nation.

"Indian democracy has grown mature, deepened and become more inclusive......Similarly, our economy has steadily grown and today India is recognised as one of the rising economies of the 21st century", she said.

Claiming that the UPA Government has concentrated both on economic growth and on putting in place policies that make growth inclusive, she said no other government in recent years has increased social sector spending like the Congress-led coalition.

She said while recognising the need for industralisation, the government is determined to put in place a comprehensive rehabilitation policy that will address the needs of those forced to relocate or those who lose their lands.