Govt draws flak in Lok Sabha on Nuke deal

Despite assurances from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that nothing in the Indo-US nuclear deal stopped India from testing nuclear devices, the government had to face a barrage of opposition fire as the Lok Sabha debated the nuclear deal.

Intervening in the much-awaited debate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh countered opposition charges saying the deal does not take away India's right to conduct a nuclear test.

The CPI(M), which supports the United Progressive Alliance government, dubbed the agreement a "surrender" to Washington and warned the Congress, leading the coalition, that "it will not take it lying down."

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani was scathing in his criticism of the government, alleging that the deal bars India's right to test, treats New Delhi as a "junior partner" and could lead to even American inspectors to oversee Indian reactors.

"The 123 agreement as it stands today is unacceptable," Advani said, adding "no self-respecting country can agree to it."

Advani took the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi repeatedly as he sought to drive the point that the deal was not favourable for India.

"Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee would not have agreed to this kind of encroachment of sovereignty," he said.