Government asserts right to conduct nuke test

Government asserted in Lok Sabha that it had the sovereign right to conduct a nuclear test, making it clear that the bilateral agreement with the US does not put any restraint on it.

Amidst a walkout by Left parties, government on Thursday asserted in Lok Sabha that it had the sovereign right to conduct a nuclear test, making it clear that the bilateral agreement with the US does not put any restraint on it.

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"There is nothing in the bilateral agreement that the government has entered with the US that will tie the hands of a future government to undertake a nuclear test," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a brief statement after Left and the Opposition members raked up the issue.

The members were protesting against the statement of the US State Department spokesman who had said all nuclear cooperation with India would be terminated if New Delhi carries out a test.