New Delhi, September 19
US Ambassador David Mulford’s open call for early conclusion of the Indo-US nuclear deal came under strong attack from the Left parties who asked the government whether it would adhere to the US “time frame” or address their concerns.
Leaders of the Left parties, who met senior ministers in a committee formed to address their concerns on the deal, felt that Mulford’s statement yesterday that “time is of the essence” for concluding the deal, apparently before this year, drew the Left parties ire.
US Ambassador to India David Mulford yesterday has asked India to take the “last steps” soon towards operationalising the civil nuclear deal with Washington. He called for concluding the IAEA-India safeguards agreement but also asked the UPA government to secure the change in the NSG’s rule to end India’s isolation in the global nuclear field.
Taking note that the Hyde Act was passed and signed into law by President George Bush and that the critically important 123 Agreement has been completed and agreed upon by both governments, the last steps must be taken. “Time is of essence,” the Ambassador stressed at the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce’s Indo-US Economic Summit.
Emphasising that “we are at a great moment in the history of our two democracies,” Mulford underlined the need for a more comprehensive relationship with a multitude of private contracts. He also advocated promotion of organised retail trade to make a positive impact on India’s poor.
The CPM has asked the Manmohan Singh government to tell the country whether it plans to adhere to the time frame set out by Mulford in taking the next steps with the IAEA for the safeguards agreement and going to
the Nuclear Suppliers Group to ensure that the 123 Agreement is voted upon by the American Congress in the time frame set out by the Bush administration or examine the serious objections raised by the majority in Parliament.
The Politburo of the CPM in a statement here today observed that more importantly the US Ambassador “has talked of moving from 123 to 456 and set out the contours of the comprehensive relationship being forged with the US encompassing defence, economic and strategic collaboration.”
