By IANS
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday urged parliamentarians to “seriously” consider the India-US nuclear deal and whether it would bind the country in a relationship that goes against its national sovereignty and independent foreign policy.
Taking their war against the nuclear deal with Washington a step ahead, the CPI-M released an open letter for members of parliament listing its apprehensions and concerns over the agreement.
“Is the nuclear cooperation agreement going to bind India with the United States in a relationship which goes contrary to our cherished goals of national sovereignty and independent foreign policy and an economic development based on the priorities of our people,” the letter asked the MPs.
“We hope that you, as a Member of Parliament, which is the sovereign representative institution of the Indian people, will seriously consider these issues on this vital matter affecting our country’s future,” the letter said.
However, the CPI-M, which leads the Left parties that extend parliamentary support to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s coalition government, has categorically said it was asking the government to go slow on the deal.
“The objections and the apprehensions raised by the Left parties and other parties, organisations and concerned scientists and citizens need to be examined before proceeding further.
“All we are asking the government to do is not to rush through with the next steps which are necessary to operationalise the deal,” it said.
Although the Left parties’ opposition to the nuclear deal had threatened the government’s stability, both the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and communists have formed a committee to look into the deal before it is made operational.
In the letter, the CPI-M argues that the Hyde Act passed by the US Congress in December 2006, went contrary to the assurances given by the prime minister in August 2006.
The party said the under the terms set out by the Hyde Act, the nuclear cooperation between the two countries would not cover the entire nuclear fuel cycle. “It denies cooperation or access in any form whatsoever to fuel enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production technologies.”
“Thus, dual use restrictions remain on technology transfers to India,” it added.
The CPI (M) said: “Another key assurance that had been given by the prime minister was that India would accept safeguards in perpetuity only in exchange for the guarantee of uninterrupted fuel supply. While the acceptance on India’s part of safeguards in perpetuity has been spelt out, the linkage of such safeguards with fuel supply in perpetuity remains unclear.
“Although the government has asserted that the Hyde Act was not binding on India, the US spokesperson had repeatedly stressed that it was binding on New Delhi,” the letter added.