Commendable Improvement In Nuclear Deal

Top nuclear scientists hail Modi-Obama deal-Times of India-26.01.2015

Some top nuclear scientists on Sunday hailed the decision to operationalize the India-US nuclear deal following talks between Prime Minister Narendra modi and visiting US President Barack Obama with principal scientific adviser to the government R Chidamabaram calling it a significant step towards strengthening the country's nuclear programme.

"I am happy that it is moving forward," Chidambaram told TOI, reiterating that the country's nuclear projects will now begin to move forward. He was also chairman of the atomic energy commission.

Another former AEC chief Anil Kakodkar, who played a key role when the deal was taking shape, expressed satisfaction that the Modi-Obama agreement would conform to the law of the land, particularly with regard to the nuclear liability law and insurance cover.

Kakodkar described as "significant" that the US agreed to drop its insistence on the tracking clause. "This has nothing to do with our strategic programme," he emphasised.

Stressing that nuclear commerce should be barrier-free, he expressed happiness that the agreement firmed up between Modi and Obama focussed on this aspect.

S Banerjee, also former AEC chairman, also hailed the US dropping the tracking clause as India had earlier agreed to monitoring only by the IAEA. "We did not agree to a bilateral agreement in this regard," he explained. Banerjee echoed with Kakodkar that the agreement adhered to the laws of the country.

M R Srinivasan, former aec chief who has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, said: "I welcome the agreement. I am happy that the outstanding issues have been resolved. With the removal of the hurdles, the agreement will help to expedite our nuclear programme."