Government rejects demand for Parliamentary Committee to review nuke deal

The Centre today rejected the Opposition Bhartiya Janata Partys (BJPs) demand of constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to review the Indo-US nuclear deal.

New Delhi, Aug 31 : The Centre today rejected the Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP's) demand of constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to review the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the BJP's demand saying that the provision for it has not been laid down in the Constitution.

He said that the decision to form a high-level committee to review the implications of the Hyde Act to the bilateral 123-agreement with the US over the nuclear deal is purely Government's internal mechanism with the coalition partners and parties supporting the government.

After weeks of intense public controversy and backroom negotiations between the ruling UPA and the Left over the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement, the government on Thursday announced the setting up of a panel to study the bilateral deal before operationalising it.

The constitution of the committee and the timeframe for submission of the findings of the Committee are yet to be decided.

The committee is likely to be a political one with representation from the UPA and the Left, and would consist of ten members.

The Left, which has demanded stopping of all the future negotiations leading to the operationalisation of the deal, had earlier threatened the government of 'dire consequences'.

The Front, which provides crucial support to the ruling UPA government, had demanded review of the implications of the US' Hyde Act on the bilateral 123-agreement that is the first step towards operationalising the deal.

The BJP today stalled the proceedings of the House leading to the adjournment of the House till afternoon.

BJP has demanded amendment of the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 to 'insulate' country's strategic objectives.

Three more steps are required before the operationalisation of the deal include, negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for India specific safeguards agreement, since India is not a signatory of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (Treaty). This will be followed by amendment in the charter of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the passing of the 123-agreement by the US Congress.

Next week a debate on the nuclear deal issue is likely to take place in the Parliament.

ANI