BJP opposes any nuke deal during PM`s visit to US

New Delhi: BJP on Wednesday said it will oppose any move to sign a nuclear supply deal with a US company during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s on-going visit to Washington as this would be a "violation" of the basic provisions of the Nuclear Liability Act, 2010.

Amid reports that government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which will be the sole nuclear operator in the country, may sign a deal with Westinghouse, USA, during Singh`s visit. "BJP will oppose any such action which would violate the basic provisions of the Nuclear Liability Act passed in 2010," party general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told a news agency. BJP maintained that as per Clause 17 (b) of the Civil Nuclear Liability Act, the responsibility of any nuclear accident vests solely on the suppliers of the equipment. "But it seems the government is attempting to bypass and annul the provisions of this Clause 17. Any attempt to annul the provisions of the nuclear liability from the suppliers would amount to violation of the Act passed by Parliament and against the established principles mandated by the Constitution," Rudy said. Noting that the US has not established any nuclear plant in the last 30 years and even Japan has shut down its last nuclear reactor, BJP wondered why India is showing so much interest in a deal with the US. "Why is the Prime Minister of India so keen to proceed with an agreement which will hurt the nation? BJP would like to question why the Prime Minister is so keen in moving ahead to sign this agreement subjugating Indian lawmakers?" Rudy said. PTI