NEW DELHI: The civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States was not in India's security or national interests, former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh told a select group of presspersons at his Teen Murti residence on Thursday. The former Prime Minister said the Manmohan Singh Government was keeping quiet on a clause in the deal that would terminate civilian nuclear cooperation in case India were to conduct another nuclear test. Pakistan and China, he stressed, would, however, be free to test.
According to Mr. Singh, India was also abandoning its independent route to civilian nuclear power generation. The former Prime Minister argued that India would now become dependent on nuclear fuel from the U.S. rather than using thorium for its fast-breeder reactors. "We'll be totally dependent on America," he maintained. Pointing out that the U.S. had issued a threat to India that the civilian nuclear deal would collapse if India voted "another way" against Iran, Mr. Singh said, "This is before signing [the deal]. What after we have signed it?"
Mr. Singh asserted that India would be under pressure to "toe" the American line on a host of international issues. Also, the former Prime Minister expressed concern about the disposal of nuclear waste, stressing that several countries had totally given up nuclear energy. Stoutly opposing the civilian nuclear deal, Mr. Singh said that any such understanding must have the approval of India's Parliament.
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