Countering the CPI-M and the BJP charges on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Union Minister Kapil Sibal said there was no truth in the "misinformation" campaign launched by them.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Countering the CPI-M and the BJP charges on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said there was no truth in the "misinformation" campaign launched by them.
The BJP and the Left have been saying that the UPA Government is misinforming the nation about the deal and alleged the Centre of surrendering the nation's right to conduct strategic nuclear tests to the US.
"No power in the world can stop us from conducting the tests. Whether we test or not that is our sovereign decision. If they want to take action, it is their sovereign decision," Sibal said at a seminar on Indo-US Nuclear Deal organised by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) here.
There was absolutely no truth in the opposition argument that the recent US State Department letter to House Committee on Foreign Affairs showed that the government had hidden some vital features of the pact and misled the country, the science and technology minister said.
The 60-year-old leader said only the 123 agreement was binding on the country, which was advantageous to the nation in many ways and would also help end its 30 years of isolation from civil nuclear regime.
Holding that too much emphasis need not be given on the Hyde Act, he said when a conflict arose between a domestic law and an international treaty, the latter would prevail.
The problem with the CPI-M had always been that it could not see "beyond its nose." It appeared that the party did not want India to progress like China, Sibal alleged.
Lashing out at the BJP, Sibal said it was surprising that its leaders were conveniently forgetting the voluntary moratorium on nuclear tests by former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee after 1998 tests.
"Now they say we want to conduct tests. Nothing has changed since then except that now we (Congress) are in power and they are in opposition," he said.
He said, "123 Agreement does not talk about tests. But if there was any change in environment of security and India does something, negotiations can start with the US. Also India would get one year notice period. If the US was not satisfied they can ask for ban on supply of material."
India was trying to clinch "clean waiver" from NSG which would enable the country to obtain nuclear material, technology and components from any member of the suppliers' club, he added.
On the contention that the pact would jeopardise the country's domestic nuclear energy programme, Sibal said only 14 of 22 reactors would come under the safeguards agreement. This was a unique deal since all others have their reactors coming under the international safeguards, he said.
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