By IANS
New Delhi : The government Friday turned down a demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to study the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying no bilateral agreement has come under the scrutiny of parliament.
An angry opposition, demanding a JPC on the agreement, disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha. The house was adjourned till 12 noon.
The opposition also brought a privilege motion against the government, saying its announcement of a United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left committee to address the concerns expressed by the communists over the agreement had violated the dignity of the house.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Samajwadi Party made the demand for JPC. But External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: “On behalf of the government, I strongly refuse any JPC on the Indo-US nuclear deal.”
He added that since Jan 26, 1950 no bilateral deal had come under the scrutiny of parliament and said the committee that was announced Thursday was an internal arrangement between the UPA coalition and its Left allies.