New Delhi, Sept 12 (ANI): India is expected to discuss US President George W Bush's observations that the fuel supply assurances were not legally binding and seek clarity on the issue.
According to reports, the observation made by Bush to the US Congress while presenting the 123 agreement for consideration is seen here as a different interpretation of the pact.
India is expected to take up the matter with the US to seek clarity as it has the potential of creating uncertainty over the fuel supplies issue.
The 123 agreement clearly specifies the responsibility of the US to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies, even if it terminates its cooperation with India.
The agreement makes it incumbent on US to supply fuel by itself and by working with friends and allies to enable India to obtain full access to the international fuel market, including reliable, uninterrupted and continual access to fuel supplies from firms in several nations.
BJP demands clarification from Centre on nuke deal
Bangalore, Sept 12 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh Government on the alleged holding back of information regarding the India-US nuclear deal.
Speaking to reporters on Friday in Bangalore where the members of the party have assembled to chalk out the strategy for the forthcoming General and Assembly elections, senior leader of BJP Jaswant Singh said that the agreement does not transform political commitments of the two countries into legally binding commitments.
"Now that President George W Bush and his presidential presentation to the US council has categorically said that not withstanding what is there in the 123, the fact of the matter is that this is not a legally binding obligation, will the Government of India issue a clarification categorically to eschew the concerns of the citizens of India," said Singh.
He added that President Bush's communication to the US Congress has confirmed the concerns of the party that the nuclear deal will hurt the very sovereignty of the country.
BJP had earlier demanded to move a breach of privilege notice against the government after leak of a hitherto held correspondence from Bush Administration to the US Congress stating that Washington will terminate nuclear trade with India if New Delhi conducts a nuclear test.
Despite having managed a waiver from the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Dr. Singh and the ruling Congress party have been facing flak from some political parties including their erstwhile left allies and the BJP for moving ahead with the deal, alleging it would compromise the country's sovereignty.
The party's Bangalore conclave is being used as a platform to make public its stand on the controversial India-US civil nuclear deal.
It is expected that BJP would use its opposition to the nuke-deal as an issue in the forthcoming elections to denounce the government.
After recent electoral wins particularly in Karnataka, a confident BJP is gearing up for the forthcoming elections in full gear. (ANI)
BJP ready to renegotiate nuke deal with US if elected
In a significant development the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Friday that they were ready to negotiate Nuclear Deal with the US if they are voted to power.
While talking to media in Bangalore at the sidelines of the National Executive Meeting today senior BJP leader M. Venkaiha Naidu made it clear that if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) elected to power they were ready to negotiate the nuke deal with US.
However he came down on United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for bungling nuclear deal.
The BJP leader made it clear that the US President George W Bush's letter to US Congress has exposed the UPA.
Even though it is not expected, the BJP's stand on Nuke Deal is quite surprising and in a way might lead to a breakthrough in future.
