Reacting to the signing of Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement into an Act by President George Bush, both the BJP and the Left today said history would prove that the accord was a “defeat” for India as Washington had stayed quiet on nuclear testing.
However, the Congress hailed the signing of the legislation into law by Bush, asserting that the Indian nuclear programme would be intact and that the future generations would not face any power shortage.
“Bush is silent in his speech about the contentious issue of nuclear testing and the government has clearly failed in ensuring the sovereignty and nuclear independence of the country,” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said after the US leader signed the Bill into law.
“The last-minute face saving comments” by the US president, Rudy said, were nearly “personal assurances and have no legal standing or any statutory back-up”.
“Only history will prove that it is a defeat for the country earned by the UPA at the cost of the common man,” Rudy said.
The Left parties warned the deal would entail “huge costs” for India and was a result of “mutual desperation” on both sides.
The statement by Bush after signing the deal was “nothing but a device” to allay genuine fears over the deal, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said.
Maintaining that there was a “wide gap” between the Indian and the US governments’ understanding of the deal, CPI leader D Raja said while Washington considered the 123 Agreement to be governed by the Hyde Act, the Atomic Energy Act and other American laws, New Delhi was of the view that only 123 Agreement was binding.
Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said the 123 Agreement had not been changed which was a “victory” for India. “The Indian nuclear programme continues to be intact. It is a victory for India ...it opens nuclear trade with the rest of the world. The future generations will not have to face any electricity shortage,” he said.
“Today, we celebrate the festival of Vijayadashami. Today, good won over evil. It is a big day for India as the American president has finally signed the Indo-US nuclear deal.”
Warning that the nuclear accord would have “serious” consequences for India, Raja said its signing could be seen as a result of “mutual desperation”.
