New Delhi: The BJP today said it will not
support any clandestine "changes" in the nuclear liability
bill, an issue raised by the US citing concerns among its
industry members over the current legislation.
"It is a law passed by Parliament (in the Monsoon
session). Parliament is supreme. The government cannot
suddenly change anything surreptitiously without coming before
Parliament," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters
replying to a question on the issue.
He said the main opposition party`s fight with the
government was over the word `And`, apart from the intent
clause which "the government changed after BJP pursued the
matter".
Earlier in the day, the US State Department had said it
will look to India to see what "changes" can be made to the
nuclear liability bill just passed by Parliament in the wake
of concerns over making suppliers of equipment also liable in
the event of a nuclear accident.
"We continue our discussions with the Indian government
on this issue and we note that Indian business leaders are
concerned about some specific aspects of the law that was just
passed by Parliament," State Department spokesman P J Crowley
said in the first reaction by the Obama Administration to some
controversial provisions in the bill.
Asked about the sudden tie-up in Jharkhand between BJP
and JMM that has led to the former staking claim to form a
government, Javdekar simply said "let us wait for the
swearing-in ceremony."
Asked about the issue of the Centre likely taking a
decision soon on bringing amendments to the much-criticised
Armed Forces Special Powers Act and its phased withdrawal from
some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP said the government
should not dilute AFSPA or grant autonomy to the state as it
would demoralise the security forces.
Asked for his comments on the Supreme Court verdict
upholding the land acquisition policy of the Uttar Pradesh
government for development of projects alongside the Yamuna
Expressway connecting the national capital with Agra, the BJP
leader said he would first see the copy of the order before
making any statement.
-PTI
