Statement of Shri A.B. Vajpayee on the Indo-US nuclear deal

According to media reports the Indo-US nuclear deal is almost ready for the approval of the governments of the two countries. A senior U.S. official has claimed that the deal is ninety ready.

Constitutionally the Government of India is not required to seek parliamentary approval before signing an International agreement. Yet in this case the Prime Minister had given certain specific assurances to the Parliament of India last year. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Prime Minister to satisfy both Houses of Parliament before confirming India's commitment to the deal that the assurances he had given have been fulfilled. This is all the more necessary given the controversy generated by some provisions of the legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.