BJP demands apology from PM on nuclear deal

[bananas]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/BJP_demands_apology_from_PM_on_N-deal/articleshow/2786170.cms

BJP demands apology from PM on nuclear deal
15 Feb, 2008, 1940 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Observing that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statement has confirmed its fears about the Indo-US nuclear deal, BJP on Friday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UPA government for 'misleading' the nation.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani said the deal neutralises the achievements of Pokhran II, the atomic tests of 1998, and takes away India's right to conduct nuclear tests in the future.

<snip>

In his address at the annual meeting of FICCI, Advani said the deal was unacceptable to the BJP as "we are giving it in writing that here after they were will be no Pokhran III."

While favouring import of nuclear fuel to meet the energy requirements, Advani said if the price for it is compromising India's nuclear capability the "answer is no way".

<snip>


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Hyde_Act_will_haunt_nuclear_deal/articleshow/2783566.cms

Hyde Act will haunt nuclear deal at NSG too
15 Feb, 2008, 0041 hrs IST, TNN

<snip>

“We will support nothing with India in the NSG that is in contradiction to the Hyde Act. It will have to be completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the House of Foreign Affairs Panel.

The Hyde Act contains prescriptive clauses that include cessation of all civilian nuclear co-operation in case India tests a nuclear weapon and restricts the reprocessing of spent fuel.

The Hyde Act also features a provision on a multi-layered system of monitoring of reactors. These are all core issues related to co-operation in civilian nuclear energy which, according to Ms Rice, will now be included in an NSG waiver. This clearly goes against India’s position that it will only accept an “unconditional” waiver from the NSG.

This makes it impossible for the government to continue its line of argument that the Hyde Act has no impact on India’s nuclear sovereignty. The government has argued in the face of criticism from the BJP and the Left that the Hyde Act is not binding on India and only the 123 Agreement matters. The BJP and the Left have been arguing that the 123 Agreement cannot be taken in isolation and has to be read with the Hyde Act.

<snip>