12-10-2006, 02:32 AM
<b>Scientists plan nuke meet</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, Dec. 9: The chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Anil Kakodkar, has called a meeting of nuclear scientists, retired and serving, for a final opinion on the US legislation on the civilian nuclear energy agreement with India.
Sources said that Dr Kakodkar, who had earlier expressed his strong reservations about the inclusion of Section 115 in the Senate bill, is very worried about the impact the final legislation will have on Indiaâs sovereignty over her own nuclear programme.
Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is also holding an informal meeting of senior party leaders who have been monitoring the progress of this legislation and have taken positions in and outside Parliament on this. <b>The US administration has targeted the BJP leaders, inviting them to Washington for consultations and holding meetings with key MPs in New Delhi on the India-US civilian nuclear energy agreement, with sources pointing out that this strategy has succeeded in creating "some divisions" within the party. Mr Vajpayeeâs meeting will be crucial in determining the strategy of the BJP in Parliament.</b>
Several former nuclear scientists have already expressed their opposition to the US legislation and will be attending next Fridayâs meeting in Mumbai to consolidate opinion against it. A former chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation, Dr A.N. Prasad, has criticised the legislation as cleared by the conference committee of the US Congress, pointing out that it demonstrates that "US interests lie between cooperation on the one hand and non-proliferation and capping of our strategic capability on the other". Dr P.K. Iyengar, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, and Dr A. Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, have expressed similar views with the latter insisting that Parliament should refuse to allow the government to go ahead with the 123 Agreement or clearances from the Nuclear Suppliers group.
<b>"The deal must be dropped" is the demand that will become more strident in the coming days with Dr Gopalakrishnan drawing attention to the fact that for the Americans it is this legislation that is binding, regardless of what might or might not be included in the 123 Agreement with India. The scientists have pointed out that there is little room now for euphoria and more for caution as the US legislators had "meddled" with the language to try and fool the Indian strategic establishment into thinking that the basic concerns had been addressed whereas this had not been done.</b>
Section 115, which is now included as Section 109 in the final legislation, had invited strong criticism from Dr Kakodkar, who had made it clear that this has come as a major surprise. Section 115 proposes joint research by the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Indian agencies in non-proliferation and nuclear safety. Dr Kakodkar had told reporters, "We do not want to get into any joint activity that will become intrusive on our programme." Sources said he is now extremely worried about the legislation and will be consulting the scientists next week in what is going to be an extremely important meeting.
<b>Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha has found the legislation objectionable. BJP MP Arun Shourie is expected to raise the issue in Parliament, but what has to be finally determined by the party is whether the opposition to the legislation will lead to a clear-cut demand that it be rejected by the government</b>. Fireworks are expected in Parliament and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to put up a strong defence, along the lines of arguments placed in a section of the media over the past two days, to insist that the basic concerns have been adequately addressed and the little that might remain will be dealt with in the 123 Agreement. The <b>Left parties have still to meet to discuss the bill although there is tremendous pressure from their larger constituency to reject the bill forthwith</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, Dec. 9: The chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Anil Kakodkar, has called a meeting of nuclear scientists, retired and serving, for a final opinion on the US legislation on the civilian nuclear energy agreement with India.
Sources said that Dr Kakodkar, who had earlier expressed his strong reservations about the inclusion of Section 115 in the Senate bill, is very worried about the impact the final legislation will have on Indiaâs sovereignty over her own nuclear programme.
Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is also holding an informal meeting of senior party leaders who have been monitoring the progress of this legislation and have taken positions in and outside Parliament on this. <b>The US administration has targeted the BJP leaders, inviting them to Washington for consultations and holding meetings with key MPs in New Delhi on the India-US civilian nuclear energy agreement, with sources pointing out that this strategy has succeeded in creating "some divisions" within the party. Mr Vajpayeeâs meeting will be crucial in determining the strategy of the BJP in Parliament.</b>
Several former nuclear scientists have already expressed their opposition to the US legislation and will be attending next Fridayâs meeting in Mumbai to consolidate opinion against it. A former chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation, Dr A.N. Prasad, has criticised the legislation as cleared by the conference committee of the US Congress, pointing out that it demonstrates that "US interests lie between cooperation on the one hand and non-proliferation and capping of our strategic capability on the other". Dr P.K. Iyengar, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, and Dr A. Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, have expressed similar views with the latter insisting that Parliament should refuse to allow the government to go ahead with the 123 Agreement or clearances from the Nuclear Suppliers group.
<b>"The deal must be dropped" is the demand that will become more strident in the coming days with Dr Gopalakrishnan drawing attention to the fact that for the Americans it is this legislation that is binding, regardless of what might or might not be included in the 123 Agreement with India. The scientists have pointed out that there is little room now for euphoria and more for caution as the US legislators had "meddled" with the language to try and fool the Indian strategic establishment into thinking that the basic concerns had been addressed whereas this had not been done.</b>
Section 115, which is now included as Section 109 in the final legislation, had invited strong criticism from Dr Kakodkar, who had made it clear that this has come as a major surprise. Section 115 proposes joint research by the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Indian agencies in non-proliferation and nuclear safety. Dr Kakodkar had told reporters, "We do not want to get into any joint activity that will become intrusive on our programme." Sources said he is now extremely worried about the legislation and will be consulting the scientists next week in what is going to be an extremely important meeting.
<b>Former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha has found the legislation objectionable. BJP MP Arun Shourie is expected to raise the issue in Parliament, but what has to be finally determined by the party is whether the opposition to the legislation will lead to a clear-cut demand that it be rejected by the government</b>. Fireworks are expected in Parliament and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to put up a strong defence, along the lines of arguments placed in a section of the media over the past two days, to insist that the basic concerns have been adequately addressed and the little that might remain will be dealt with in the 123 Agreement. The <b>Left parties have still to meet to discuss the bill although there is tremendous pressure from their larger constituency to reject the bill forthwith</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->