Date:02/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/02/stories/2007080261271400.htm

National

West Bengal House seeks details on 123 pact

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Assembly adopted a motion on Wednesday demanding that the United Progressive Alliance Government provide Parliament with all details related to the 123 agreement between India and the United States of America. It was also critical of the deepening military co-operation between the two countries.

“This House categorically states that the people of this country will not accept any attempt to impose conditions by any country on India on supply of nuclear fuel to India,” the Left-sponsored motion said.

“India will independently decide on the use of nuclear fuel. The people of India will not accept any undesirable intervention in the name of international vigilance on the question of nuclear reprocessing rights for India,” it added, calling for steps to arrive at a national consensus on such an important policy.

Speaking on the motion, Left parties’ MLAs said that any nuclear agreement with the U.S. would have to be based on the assurances given to the Parliament by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in August last year. Manas Bhunia, leader of CLP, while opposing the motion said that it was unwarranted as the Prime Minister had already addressed the concerns of the Left and other parties regarding the nuclear deal.