Indo-US N-deal evokes mixed reaction

     New Delhi: The landmark Indo-US nuclear pact - the centerpiece of US President George W Bush's first visit to India, evoked mixed reactions among various political circles in the country. India and the United States today agreed on the implementation process of the nuclear deal reached in July last year between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush. Left parties, however, are opposed to the deal as the separation of the civil and military nuclear facilities - a prerequisite for the deal, would put the fast breeder reactors under the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Sitaram Yechury, politburo of Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the deal did not serve India's interests. "India has not agreed to U.S. terms for nuclear deal. India has not actually signed what USA wanted. India is now negotiating on the question of fast breeder reactor - the point which we have been making. People have to know the importance of fast breeder reactor. The reason why we do not wanted ... we are moving towards using thorium as a nuclear fuel, which India has the largest deposit in the world. Now, if we have thorium, we are not dependent on anybody. The moment we put that on civilian list, with the safeguards the movement is prevented," he said.

     Leaders of Congress party hailed the agreement, saying it would help strengthening the relations between the two countries. "I think the agreements which have been signed are very important in strengthening the relationship between both the countries. The discussions which were held are also very important and will be beneficial for our countrymen," said Sachin Pilot, Congress MP. The deal, agreed in principle last July when Dr. Singh visited Washington, earlier ran into trouble due to differences over India's plan to separate its military and civilian atomic plants.

   Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it would react to deal in the Parliament after going through the text of the agreement. "We will give our formal reaction in the Parliament when the government holds a detailed discussion on the pact. Bharatiya Janata Party has always vowed for relations with the United States on the basis of equality taking into an account the larger interest of the nation," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesman of the BJP. Analysts, however, said that convincing Congressmen back home to actually fix the deal would be tough task for Bush. Some members of the U.S. Congress have opposed the deal because India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Experts, however, said that stability and security in India have been instrumental in prompting the world community in favour of India.

All-India protest marks Bush visit

      New Delhi: Nation-wide protests greeted US President George Bush as he was ironing out the final glitches in the Indo-US civilian nuclear with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today. A rally organised by the Left parties along with the Samajwadi Party today witnessed large-scale protests as thousands of people participated in it, carrying red flags and shouted anti-Bush slogans. A wide scale reverberation of "Killer Bush go back" filled the air of the Ramlila Grounds from where the procession started. A gamut of Communist leaders including CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yetchury, Brinda Karat, CPI leader A. B. Bardhan and Samajwadi Party leader and son of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister , Akhilesh Yadav marched towards the Jantar Mantar. As the news of the finalisation of the nuclear deal poured in, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury in his initial reaction said that he still do not consider it to be a deal and said that the Left parties is not opposed to the deal until it harms India's security. Prakash Karat addressing the rally said: " I do not know what deal has been finalised but through this protest I want to make clear that Bush may be welcomed by the Government but he is not welcomed by the Indian people at all". He also warned the UPA government that his party will not tolerate any misadventure by the United States against Iran. "The U.S. wants that the way it had invaded the oil wells of Iraq it will be able to attack Iran in a similar way. But we want to tell our government that we will not tolerate any attack on Iran," said Karat.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav while addressing the procession accused the UPA government of stooping to a new low and urged the Left leaders to rethink its decision in providing outside support to the UPA Government He also said that there has been no unanimity in the political circles regarding the growing engagements of India with the United States as the Prime Minister never bothered to consult all parties in this matter. Demonstrators carrying anti Bush placards with a sea of red flags also burnt effigies of the US President. However, the security remained tight as police and personnel from the Rapid Action Force were present in large numbers along with their water cannons and box of tear gas shells along the path taken by the procession.

    Meanwhile, in Bhopal also activists of Samajwadi party in toe with the Left Parties beat the effigy of Bush with slippers to vent their anger. Reports of demonstrations from Bangalore and Kolkata have also reached but no reports of any untoward accidents have come from there. The Parliament too witnessed uproar in both the houses on the issue of Bush coming to India. Left Parties and Samajwadi Party leaders protested and chanted slogans of "Barbarian Bush Go Back". This was an extension of demonstration done in the morning by the Samajwadi Party MPs who adorning the red caps expressed their anti Bush feelings. As soon as the House met, MPs of Samajwadi Party demanded an apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for receiving US President George Bush at the airport. "We will not allow the House to run till Singh apologises for receiving Bush at the airport," SP Parliamentary Party leader Janeshwar Mishra said.

British media reacts negatively to nuke deal

     London: The decision by India and the United States to give a formal stamp to their July 18, 2005 civilian nuclear deal by ironing out some of their differences may have been welcomed the world over, but the British media appears to have reacted to it with cynicism, negativity and scepticism. Prominent papers of Britain believe that there is still undercurrent of uncertainty in the corridors of power in both Washington and New Delhi over whether the nuclear deal will be able to cross the last frontier.

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