N-deal should not curb our freedom: Scientists

In a move that might impede the growth of consensus in the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, some of the country's highly respected scientists have, in a statement, urged the government to ensure scientific freedom is not curtailed.

In a letter, these scientists said the US legislation infringes on India's indigenous nuclear research and development and urged MPs to ensure continuance of the nuclear option.

The letter gives a scientific and more credible basis to the charge that the US has shifted the goal posts from 18 July 2005, when the agreement was signed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George Bush.

The prime minister's media advisor, Sanjaya Baru, merely said: "The PM will meet the scientists this week."

However, given that the prime minister is making the passage of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal a matter of personal prestige, a letter written by persons of the calibre of these scientists is a big blow.