Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the nation hasn't given up its “sovereign right'' to conduct atomic weapons tests by entering into a civilian nuclear energy agreement with the U.S.
The text of the accord doesn't contain any reference to restrictions on India's military options, Mukherjee told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament today, after the Times of India reported the U.S. will call off the agreement if the South Asian nation were to test weapons.
“India has the sovereign right to test and would do so if it is necessary in the national interest,'' Mukherjee told lawmakers opposed to the terms of the agreement. “The only restraint is our voluntary unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing, declared by the previous government and being continued by the successor government.''
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Indian lawmakers three days ago that the accord won't prevent future weapons testing and doesn't compromise the South Asian nation's foreign policy.
Singh's biggest Communist ally says the prime minister is trying to push through an agreement that doesn't have parliamentary support, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the government of arrogance in signing a document tying India to U.S. interests.
Efforts by Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress party which heads the ruling federal coalition, to win over critics have been largely unsuccessful, with lawmakers stalling parliament today over the reported U.S. stance on India's strategic options.
Australian Uranium
Australia today agreed to supply uranium to the South Asian nation after Prime Minister John Howard spoke to Singh to discuss conditions for the shipments.
“I wish to announce that the Australian government has decided to allow the export of uranium to India, subject to strict conditions,'' Howard said in a release posted on his Web site. “I have today informed Prime Minister Singh of this decision, which he welcomed.''
Australia's policy change is subject to the accord between the U.S. and India being agreed and the “conclusion by India of an additional protocol on strengthened safeguards,'' he said.
India will need to make progress on putting civil nuclear facilities under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency in perpetuity, the Australian premier said. The country will also want assurances that the uranium will be used only for peaceful purposes.
Houses Adjourn
Both the upper and lower houses of parliament in New Delhi adjourned early today because of protests by the opposition. They will resume the session tomorrow at 11 a.m.
“The proposed 123 agreement has provisions in it that in the event of a nuclear test by India, all nuclear cooperation is terminated,'' the Times of India cited U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack as saying. It also includes the “provision for return of all materials, including reprocessed material covered by the agreement.''
While the agreement doesn't require the approval of the Indian parliament to take effect, Communist resistance to the accord may undermine the government's stability. Singh needs the support of lawmakers belonging to the four communist parties for a majority in the 545-member lower house.
The ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition, led by Sonia Gandhi's Congress, has 226 seats in the lower house or Lok Sabha, 47 short of a majority, and the communists have 59 seats.
