By IANS,
New Delhi : While the Congress party and its allies rejoiced over getting the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) waiver in Vienna Saturday, the opposition, including the Left, went all out to criticise the development.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said: “It is a great victory for India and of Indian diplomacy, and the credit for it goes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. It will go a long way to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power in the country. The 45-member NSG has accepted India’s credibility of being a serious non-proliferation nuclear power.”
Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari:
“It’s a historic moment for the country. The win at NSG is beyond the Congress, beyond the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and is something fundamental to India’s growth. Despite being a non-NPT signatory, India has been able to persuade the world to give a nuclear waiver. It’s a red letter day for India.”
Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh: “I heartily congratulate Pranab Mukherjee (external affairs minister), Sonia-ji (United Progressive Alliance chairperson) and Manmohan Singh-ji (prime minister). I am very elated.
“For the last two-three days all political leaders were busy attacking the Samajwadi Party and me. But after the government’s success it is now beyond any doubt that our stand was correct. This is a befitting reply to the trio of Comrade Karat (Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary), Mayawati (Bahujan Samaj Party chief) and Advanji (Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader). We have come out with flying colours.”
Communist Party of India-Marxist Central Committee member and chief whip in the Rajya Sabha A. Vijayaraghavan: “This is an injustice done to the generation next to come. The Manmohan Singh government has taken an unfortunate decision by submitting our authority before the United States.”
Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja: “We continue to be opposed to the 123 agreement. It’s a surrender of all our sovereign right.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: “It was a stage-managed show so there is nothing surprising. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has compromised on national interests. These issues and concerns still remain. In spite of winning the vote at the NSG meeting, the prime minister has lost the battle at home. The deal, in its present state, is going to have long-term consequences.”
BJP vice-president and former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha: “The Congress is saying that this will end India’s nuclear isolation. We believe this does not hold any ground. India was sidelined because of India’s first nuclear test, done by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 and later under Atal Bihari Vaypayee’s government. Plus, the whole world recognises India as a nuclear state and it is because of our scientists, so there is nothing called isolation. India has walked into a non-proliferation trap. It has lost its right to conduct nuclear tests forever. NSG guidelines are tougher than the Hyde Act.”