All it took was a 90-minute meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get scientists on board for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. The scientists, several of them former heads of the Atomic Energy Commission, had written to Singh on what they called their security fears over the deal. Praising the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament today, they said their concerns had been addressed.

At the outset of the meeting at his residence, Prime Minister reiterated the Government's stand on the nuclear deal as articulated in Parliament. To which former AEC chairman MR Srinivasan said: "Your statement was beautiful. We loved it."

Among the concerns raised by the scientists were of the deal infringing on the "independence" to carry out indigenous research and development (R&D) in nuclear science and technology. They also feared the deal would become a bilateral CTBT between India and the US.

"It was an excellent meeting. We are satisfied," said Placid Rodriguez, former director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), who was part of the seven- member group that met the Prime Minister.

Among the most vocal of the critics, former AEC chief PK Iyengar described the meeting as "ideal" where views were exchanged in an open and frank manner. "All participating scientists were happy with the assurances given to them," he said.

Dr HN Sethna, seniormost former chair of the AEC and a key player in the 1974 Pokhran explosion said: "it was a very good meeting and the Prime Minister has done an excellent job."

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