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Muslims not against N-deal, says Oweisi
The Lok Sabha member feels political parties opposed to the India-US nuclear deal are spreading canards that Muslims are also against the deal, reports Srinand Jha.
Political parties opposed to the India-US nuclear deal are spreading canards that Muslims are also against the deal, Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Oweisi has said.
"These are parties that harbour love for the Muslims of Palestine and Iraq, but have no love for the Muslims of West Bengal," said Oweisi.
"The Muslims are not against the nuclear deal. If the deal is good for the country, it is good for the Muslims of the country as well," he said.
Oweisi, a member of All India Majlis-e-Itehadul Musalmeen, clarified his position further. "We favour friendly and cordial relations with the United States and we do want nuclear energy. But this should not come at the cost of principles that India has stood for."
India has supported the US twice against Iran at the IAEA and is also participating in the West Asia Peace Conference — where the Palestinian outfit Hamas has not been invited. These are issues that lead Oweisi to presume that the Manmohan Singh government is visibly pro-America.
He demanded that a white paper be issued on the country's energy requirements. "What are the requirements in the light of huge reserves of Thorium being found in Ladakh?" he asked.
Nikhil Kumar, a Lok Sabha member from Aurangabad, clarified that the deal specifies that nuclear reactors dedicated to strategic use would not be subject to IAEA inspection.
