On the eve of Indo-US talks on the nuclear deal, the Prime Minister's Scientific Adviser CNR Rao on Wednesday asserted that the country's fast breeder reactors (FBRs) could not be put in the civilian side.
Rao said New Delhi could opt out of the deal if it went against the national interest.
Hours before the arrival of US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns for talks with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on the nuclear issue, Rao said India could not be forced to accept the July 18 deal, but added that the stage for saying 'yes' or 'no' had not come yet.
"Who said we are going to put the FBRs in the civilian side? We cannot and will not do so," he said emphasising that such installations are "our own creations" and could not be opened up to international scrutiny.
Rao, Chairman of Science Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, added "We will accept only whatever is good for India... The deal cannot be forced on us. The country's interest will be protected."
He said there is a clause in the deal, which says that India can say no in the end if negotiations fail.
{{/usCountry}}He said there is a clause in the deal, which says that India can say no in the end if negotiations fail.
{{/usCountry}}"India can say sorry, but politely" if the talks fail, said Rao, speaking on the sidelines of 'Indo-US Nanotechnology Conclave' when asked about reports that Washington was insisting that New Delhi put FBRs in the civilian side.