By IANS,
New Delhi : The Trinamool Congress, the second largest constituent of the Congress-led ruling coalition, says it is yet decide its stand on the nuclear liability bill that was deferred by the government Monday, the day it was listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha.
Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said Tuesday the party has not taken a decision on the matter.
“Let it be tabled first, then we will decide,” Bandyopadhyay told IANS when asked about his party’s stand on the bill that is crucial to the operationalisation of the India-US civilian nuclear deal.
Reports had said Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had joined the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and her arch-rivals, the Left parties, in opposing the bill and the “isolated” government was forced to defer it.
Meanwhile, the Left parties Tuesday urged MPs to reject the nuclear liability bill, saying it amounted to giving subsidies to US suppliers of proposed nuclear plants while disregarding the interests of the Indian people.
The government is trying to evolve a consensus on the issue to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill in the second part of the budget session commencing April 12 after a three-week break.
The bill seeks to cap the liability of nuclear plant operators and equipment suppliers in case of an accident.