Reaffirming its position on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Government on Wednesday said the deal does not impact either the country’s independent foreign policy or the right to test. Maintaining there was a certain distance for the deal to travel, the Government said a final judgement on the deal should be passed only after it fructifies.

Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the nuclear deal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee reiterated that India’s foreign policy remained independent. He asserted that India would be bound only by the 123 Agreement and not by the Hyde Act, which has certain “prescriptive and extraneous” elements.

On the right to test — a point raised by the BJP — Mukherjee said: “If we feel the test is necessary, we will do it. In the 123 Agreement, it has not been banned.” He pointed out that if such a step is taken by New Delhi, “consequences will also follow” as in 1974 and 1998. At the same time, he noted that India was not in for “massive” weaponisation and favoured comprehensive universal disarmament.

Mukherjee said a judgement on the deal should be passed only after it is fructified. “If it fructifies..., then you will find who is correct, who is not correct,” he said.

Replying to the Opposition charge that the PM was not taking Parliament into confidence, Mukherjee said Singh was not running away from the House. “Discussion does not mean dictation,” he said. He asked the BJP not to change its policy simply because it had changed seats (in Parliament) after going out of power. “Please give it a try. Our intention is to try all sources of energy,” he said.

... contd.