PRIME MINISTER Manmohan Singh met a group of top nuclear scientists on Saturday and allayed their fears by assuring them that no changes would be allowed to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.
At a 90-minute meeting, the PM sought their help to “outline a path to take advantage of this new opening (provided by the nuclear agreement) to end the nuclear apartheid against India”.
The PM asked the National Security Advisor and the Department of Atomic Energy to remain in touch with the scientists — including Homi N. Sethna, P.K. Iyengar and M.R. Srinivasan — and take their advice while negotiating the safeguards agreement and the India-specific additional protocol with the IAEA.
The PM had said in the Rajya Sabha that he would meet the scientists and address their concerns about the Indo-US nuclear deal.
According to an official statement after the meeting, the PM asked the scientists to show “how best to use the opportunities on the horizon, while minimising the risks and taking care of our national interests”.
The scientists “reiterated their concerns about the changes being sought by members of the US Congress to the July 18 2005 Joint Statement,” and the PM reiterated the assurances he had given to Parliament. After the meeting, the scientists appreciated the PM's statement on the issue to Parliament, saying: “Your statement was beautiful. We loved it.”
{{/usCountry}}The scientists “reiterated their concerns about the changes being sought by members of the US Congress to the July 18 2005 Joint Statement,” and the PM reiterated the assurances he had given to Parliament. After the meeting, the scientists appreciated the PM's statement on the issue to Parliament, saying: “Your statement was beautiful. We loved it.”
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Fuel shortage
PM discussed fuel shortage at atomic reactors at a meeting of the Atomic Energy Commission
Indo-us nuke deal will take care of fuel shortage at nuclear power plants. Sources say India has sought perpetual supplies of N-fuel as precondition to permit perpetual safeguards at its civilian nuclear power reactors