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PM assurance on nuclear deal

      New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday assured scientists that he was aware of their concerns about the July 18, 2005 Indo-US nuclear deal, and would take steps to safeguard the nation's interests. According to Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, Dr Singh has also assured leaders of the Left that their concerns over the deal will be addressed in Parliament. "This country is very proud of its nuclear scientists who have worked against a very difficult backdrop of nuclear denial and discriminatory regime and virtual apartheid to make India nuclear capable and they in fact welcome, if you read their statement on the July 18 th agreement, India's quest for full civilian nuclear cooperation and if there are any concerns they will be addressed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is aware of that. If the nuclear scientists or the past chairmen of they have any concerns, the government takes note of that," Sharma told reporters here. Terming the Left's criticism of the deal as unwarranted and unfair, Sharma said: "Our Communist friends have demanded a discussion and we welcome the discussion. This is an integral part of our democracy and the government has no problems with it." "This criticism (of the Left) is unwarranted and unfair. The Prime Minister and the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government have while demonstrating utmost respect for the institution of parliament have been transparent in their approach and taken the parliament repeatedly into confidence and the issue has been discussed twice earlier in both the houses and tomorrow it will be third occasion. We pursue and independent foreign policy. What has happened that warrants such observation?" he added.

     Dr Singh's assurances came at a meeting between Singh and members of the country's nuclear establishment after senior scientists wrote a joint letter to him saying changes to pact could hurt India's ability to develop nuclear technology. The civilian nuclear cooperation deal gives nuclear-armed India access to U.S. atomic fuel and equipment despite New Delhi not having signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In return, New Delhi has agreed to international inspections of its civilian nuclear reactors and segregation of its civilian and military programmes. The deal won an overwhelming approval of the U.S. House of Representatives last month and is due to be considered by the Senate next month. The two houses then have to vote together after negotiations on technical details of the pact. But critics say Washington is moving the goal posts to surreptitiously curb India's nuclear arms programme through changes to the legislation before Congress. The Prime Minister has repeatedly tried to allay these fears by saying he would not compromise on national security and the deal would have to conform to its original parameters. The deal has also come in for strong criticism from U.S. non- proliferation legislators who say Washington has blown a hole in the NPT by making an exception for India. And though Washington has also sought to reassure New Delhi on this count, in India few are impressed.

     The Communists, who shore up the federal coalition, have said they could pull out of a key government coordination panel if New Delhi compromises on a nuclear deal with the United States. Sitaram Yechury, a senior figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), in an interview to a news agency recently said Dr.Singh's coalition Government would come under strong pressure if he was not more "transparent" about the landmark pact. The CPM has 44 deputies in the 545-member lower house of parliament and provides the government with support from outside the ruling coalition. Some changes proposed by U.S. lawmakers include a clause that would make it mandatory for the U.S. administration to certify every year that India is sticking to the deal's terms. Other amendments proposed by Congressmen include the end of nuclear cooperation if India conducts a nuclear test as well as caps on using spent nuclear fuel.

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