Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090754010800.htm

National

Victory for India: Amar Singh

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party has described the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver for India’s nuclear commerce as a great victory for the country and said it would help in its development.

“India needs development and not nuclear bombs,” SP general secretary Amar Singh said soon after the NSG approved the waiver in Vienna. Mr. Singh criticised the Opposition parties for “beating around the bush” over the issue. Quoting the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he said India required no more nuclear tests as the previous two tests had proved that the country was a nuclear-capable state.

Nationalist Congress Party spokesman D.P. Tripathi also welcomed the news saying it was expected. “This consensus is going to be the basis for wider international consensus,” he said.

At a press conference here, Bahujan Samaj Party president and U.P. Chief Minister Mayawati accused the Congress-led UPA government of deliberately concealing facts and conditions relating to the nuclear deal.