Date:16/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121606311200.htm

National

Unanswered question: Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

"A demeaning, debasing agreement"

CHENNAI: General secretary of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Jayalalithaa on Friday flayed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for finalising the India-U.S. nuclear deal, which "had been formulated to prevent India from becoming a nuclear weapon state."

In a statement,she said: "As on date, the UPA Government at the Centre had not answered the question as to what is the compelling necessity for sacrificing India's sovereignty, under pressure, against the nation's will, to enter into such a demeaning, debasing agreement."

"It is the unanimous view of the Indian people that India should not become a Vietnam or an Iraq," she added.

She also demanded that a constitutional amendment should be brought in to ensure that a full-scale discussion had to compulsorily take place in Parliament with regard to any treaty proposed to be concluded with a foreign country and only after both the Houses gave approval, the accord should come into force for implementation.

"If this is not done, secret deals will continue to be concluded, which are against the country's interests," she said.

Clauses of agreement

According to the clauses of the agreement, American scientists and Army Chiefs would have the right to visit India's atomic plants, besides making a sudden inspection. "It is for us to examine and decide whether such an agreement, which seriously affects our nation's sovereignty is necessary at all."

Ms. Jayalalithaa also said that the argument that the deal was concluded now because of a possible need for raw materials at a future date had no substance as the raw materials available in the country were likely to last for 100 years even if they were over-utilised.

Opposition parties, including the AIADMK, had laid the charge that the deal was of no benefit to India, she said, adding that the moment it came into effect, all information concerning India's atomic plants would be in the hands of the U.S. and it would no longer be possible to maintain any secrecy with regard to the research undertaken by the scientists in the atomic power sector.

The people of India would rise up as one to throw out the UPA Government if it tried to lower the country's dignity and make it servile to a foreign power, she said.