After Kalam OK to n-deal, SP signals a rethink: Let UPA give us new facts

In an email interview to The Indian Express yesterday, Kalam had said: “We have thorium resources in abundance. But thorium is not fissile material and has to be converted into a fissile material using plutonium. Our scientists are working hard to realize this mission. It may take five to seven years to achieve this goal. Hence it is essential to have uranium for running our nuclear reactors...getting uranium from these countries will not stop us from doing the indigenous research and development in thorium-based nuclear reactors...Hence, we should go ahead with civilian nuclear deal with US. It does not compromise India’s sovereignty. We can at any time withdraw, if any national security need arises in future.”

Reacting to the SP’s offer for talks on nuclear deal, a wary Congress said that the PM and the External Affairs Minister had made several statements inside and outside the Parliament on how the nuclear deal is in the country’s interest. “In their statements, there is ample clarification that the deal is in the interest of the country and therefore all political parties should support it irrespective of their ideologies. As for Amar Singh’s remarks, it is for the UPA-Left Coordination Committee to decide whether they want to discuss it with other parties,” said AICC spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed.

Kalam’s remarks have put many in the BJP in a spot as well. So long, it has dismissed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra’s endorsement of the deal as his “personal opinion” but it is well aware that it can’t be seen as doing the same with Kalam’s.

Several BJP leaders, when contacted by The Sunday Express, admitted, in private, that Kalam’s endorsement was a “dilemma” given that his “nationalist credentials” were beyond doubt. “It is a big dharmasankat for me,” said a top leader, “so I would not like to comment.”

For the record, however, Sushma Swaraj said: “He is a respected figure but that doesn’t mean we have to agree with all his formulations. There is no shift in our opinion.”

Known for his steadfast opposition to the deal, party vice president Yashwant Sinha said there was no way the party would accept the deal in its present form. Party general secretary Vinay Katiyar, however, echoed the sentiments of a significant section in the party when he said that “Kalam’s nationalism cannot ever be questioned, and hence his arguments (on the nuclear deal) have their own merit. But we wish that the Government was more open on the deal details with us”.

... contd.

Ads By Google

Message*	Maximum characters allowed

Name*		Email ID*
Subject*		Country*

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.

Mail this page