Kakodkar rules out compromise on India's nuclear stance

25 August 2008

Mumbai: Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has ruled out any changes in the draft civil nuclear co-operation agreement with the United States even as officials of the two countries started discussions on amending the original text agreement to suit the stipulations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India will not allow itself to be ''pushed" over the nuclear deal and it will accept the waiver only if it is within the parameters of 18 July 2005 Indo-US joint statement.

The AEC chief's assertions come amid apprehensions that the amended NSG draft waiver could include language that would bind the country to full scope nuclear safeguards.

US and Indian officials are reworking the wording of a fresh waiver draft for the September meeting of the NSG. Officials, however, have categorically ruled out accepting major changes in the new document.

New Delhi, has even threatened to walk away from the landmark agreement rather than accept strings attached to the NSG waiver, officials pointed out.

''India is looking for acceptable NSG exemption, clean exemption with no additional conditions and the parameters have to be within the parameters of 18 July 2005 understanding with the US," Kakodkar said on the sidelines of a function at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.