Do not operationalise n-deal for six months: Karat

By IANS

New Delhi : A day after West Bengal’s communist Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya openly spoke in favour of nuclear power, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Tuesday asked the government not to operationalise the India-US nuclear deal for at least six months.


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“Do not operationalise the deal for at least six months. The government should wait for the outcome of a discussion in parliament before taking any decision in this matter,” Karat said while addressing a party rally against the nuclear here.

Bhattacharya had said in Kolkata Monday that the country could not avoid nuclear power – a statement seen as reflecting differences among the communists over the nuclear deal.

Karat’s warning also came a day ahead of the second meeting of United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left committee over the impact of Hyde Act and 123 agreement on India’s foreign policy and independent nuclear development.

After the first meeting of the 15-member United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left committee formed to discuss the Left’s concerns over the nuclear agreement, the UPA had responded Monday to a note by the Left parties sent last week.

The note clarified that the Hyde Act was a US domestic law and the 123 agreement would be superior to it in terms of the Indo-US nuclear deal once it is in place.

Also, the government said its negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on India-specific safeguards would be finalised only after the 123 agreement is in place.

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