Govt says evolving consensus on N-deal, Left issues warning

Agencies Posted: Mar 03, 2008 at 1542 hrs
New Delhi, March 3: As the US continues to press India to conclude the nuclear deal at the earliest, Government on Monday said efforts were on to evolve a broad political consensus here on the issue.

The Left parties, however, insisted that there was no consensus on the deal and warned the government of serious consequences if steps were taken to operationalise it.

Making a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee defended the initiative, saying it was essential to ensure end to an "unfair technology denial" regime and sanctions faced by India for over three decades.

"We will continue to seek broad political consensus within the country to take forward our engagement on this issue with other countries," Mukherjee said.

He did not elaborate but was clearly referring to efforts to overcome the stiff opposition by the Left allies to operationalisation of the deal with the US.

Seeking to allay the apprehensions of Left and other arties over the Hyde Act, Mukherjee said the legislation was an enabling provision between the Executive and Legislative organs of the US and India will have civil nuclear cooperation with the US under the 123 Agreement only.

"India's rights and obligations regarding the civil nuclear cooperation with the US arise only from the bilateral 123 agreement agreed upon with the US," he said.