Do not allow US to dictate terms: Jaswant
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New Delhi, Aug. 25: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday asked the government not to rush the passage of the nuclear liability bill in Parliament under US pressure.
“Please accept the amendments that we have moved, we need to live with the head held high,” BJP leader Jaswant Singh said in the Lok Sabha, participating in a debate on the controversial bill.
Jaswant Singh said, “we should not allow the US to dictate things” and claimed that the government was not candid enough and was trying to rush the Bill through Parliament.
“You are committing the country and the future generations to nuclear power programme. Please, therefore, consider the future generations of India and not simply the present President of the United States,” he said, referring to the scheduled visit of President Barack Obama to New Delhi in November.
"Please give the country, people what is due. We have to consider suppliers liability with caution. Why are you hustling Parliament and everyone? It is Clause 17 B which is the bone of contention. We will examine the amendments brought in by the government," he said.
"It is a very serious issue and we cannot take it with any degree of casualness," he said.
The former external affairs minister also appreciated the government's efforts to address the concerns of the opposition and in particular mentioned finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
A domestic legislation of civil nuclear liability is the last step in the implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.
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