Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031860771200.htm

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We’ll have to study draft: Left leader

Special Correspondent

UPA-Left panel on nuclear deal will take another three-four months to finalise findings

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Vital talks: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury addressing a press conference after the meeting of the UPA-Left committee on India-U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation in New Delhi on Monday. AIFB leader Debabrata Biswas, CPI leaders A.B. Bardhan and D. Raja and RSP general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan are also seen.

NEW DELHI: At Monday’s meeting of the United Progressive Alliance-Left Committee on the India-United States civilian nuclear cooperation, members were not given any text, a top Left leader told The Hindu.

“We will have to study the draft [India-specific safeguards agreement that was negotiated with the IAEA] in detail, seek more clarifications from the government and continue our discussions on that basis. It is not enough but I hope before the next meeting the government will provide us more details.” He said the committee’s work was not yet over and it had to finalise its findings.

In his view, it would take another three-four months and the deadline, often repeated by U.S. officials, for getting the deal approved by U.S. Congress by July appeared “unrealistic” as the UPA-Left Committee would need that much time to finalise its findings.

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan, a member of the panel, said the government gave a “gist” of the draft safeguards agreement with the IAEA. Other members said the “salient features” of the agreement were explained by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The meeting was attended, among others, by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat; his party colleague Sitaram Yechury; AIFB general secretary Debabrata Biswas; CPI national secretary D. Raja; and Union Minister Kapil Sibal.