India to set up facility to reprocess spent nuclear fuel: PM
13 Aug 2007
The Indo-US nuclear deal does not take away India''s right to conduct tests, that''s the word from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, in his address to the Lok Sabha today. He asserted that the country retained the strategic autonomy and "sovereign" right to conduct a nuclear test, if needed.
Regarding the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation, Dr Manmohan Singh said that the spent fuel could be reprocessed. Singh added that India will set up a dedicated facility to reprocess fuel and India specific safeguards are in agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.
According to the prime minister, nothing in the agreement infringes
on the strategic programme and India''s nuclear weapons programme is untouched.
The deal protects India''s rights to strategic fuel reserve, stated Dr Singh.
His address to the Lok Sabha was interrupted by opposition uproar and a walkout
by the UPA government''s Left allies. Singh also assured the members that India
has the permanent right to reprocess nuclear fuel, and will be able to develop
strategic reserves of nuclear fuel to ensure uninterrupted supplies to the civilian
reactors for their lifetime.
His
address to the Rajya Sabha on the nuke deal was also interrupted as the entire
opposition and the Left parties staged a walkout, with the house being adjourned.
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