PM allays Left's fears on US nuke deal

Rejecting the Opposition criticism of a "sell-out" to the US on the nuclear issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asserted in Parliament that there was no compromise on the country's fundamental and strategic needs.

Seeking to allay fears of Left parties and other allies, he said autonomous control of the nuclear weapons programme would be retained.

Singh said India's commitments on the nuclear issue in the recent Indo-US joint statement would be "conditional upon, and reciprocal to, the US fulfilling its side" of the understanding.

"The government will not allow any fissile material shortages or any other material limitations on our strategic programme to meet current or future requirements. The defence and security interests of our country are our highest priority and will continue to remain so," he said.

"There is nothing in this joint statement that amounts to limiting or inhibiting our strategic nuclear weapons programme over which we will retain unrestricted, complete and autonomous control," Singh said.

"We expect a close co-relation between the actions to be taken by the US and by India. Indian actions will be contingent at every stage on actions taken by the other side. Should we not be satisfied that our interests are fully secured, we shall not feel pressed to move ahead in a pre-determined manner," he said.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and leaders from other political parties were present when Singh read out the six-page statement.

The Prime Minister said full civilian nuclear energy cooperation would include, but not limit itself, to the expeditious consideration of fuel supplies for Tarapur.

Singh also spoke about the joint statement referring to India identifying and separating civilian and military nuclear facilities in a phased manner and taking a decision to place voluntarily civilian nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

India, he emphasised, would never accept discrimination. "Hence, the phased action, in terms of identification and separation of civilian nuclear facilities based solely on our own duly calibrated national decisions will be taken at appropriate points in time, consistent with our national security interests," Singh said.

He said the US had undertaken to adjust its laws and policies domestically and to work with its friends and allies to adjust relevant global regimes.

The pact with the US should open up the possibility of india being able to access nuclear fuel and nuclear power reactors and other technologies from outside to supplement its domestic efforts, he noted.

He said the joint statement recognized India as a responsible country with advanced nuclear technology and that it should acquire the same benefits and advantages as other such states.

"As a result, we expect that the resumption of India's nuclear trade and commerce with the US, and globally, is an achievable goal, involving the dismantling of the technology denial regimes which have hitherto targeted India".

The Prime Minsiter said full civilian nuclear co-operation would include, but not limit itself, to the expeditious consideration of fuel supplies for the Tarapur plant.

The Prime Minister made it clear that before voluntarily placing its civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards, India would ensure that "all restrictions" on it have been lifted. "Our autonomy of decision-making will not be circumscribed in any manner," he stressed.

Observing that the basis for the understanding with the US was a clear recognition that India is a responsible nuclear power with an impeccable record on nuclear non-proliferation, he said "our strategic policies and assets are a source of national security and will continue to be so, and will remain outside the scope of our discussions with any external interlocutors".

Singh assured the Parliament that government would not allow any fissile material shortages or any other material limitations on India's strategic programmes in order to meet current or future requirements.

"The defence and security interests of our country are our highest priority and will continue to remain so," he said.

On India's claim for permanent memberchip of an enlarged UN Security Council, he said the US has not found it possible to endorse its position. "It is my hope that over time the US will recognise the validity of what we say".

There will be a discussion on the Prime Minister's statement in Lok Sabha on Monday and later in the Rajya Sabha.