New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday claimed that the BJP-led NDA Government had talked with the US in secret on nuclear issues even as he strongly defended the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying it will do nothing to hurt India's indigenous fast-breeder programme.
Intervening in a debate on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Singh said the 'content and scope' of the strategic programme was not discussed with the US or any other country. "Our strategic programme will respond to our own decisions and not be subjected to any international scrutiny," he said.
Responding to Opposition charge that the UPA Government was out to mortgage India’s foreign policy to US, Dr Singh made it clear in Lok Sabha that "all promises, commitments made to the House (by him) will be observed."
"India cannot accept conditions beyond July 2005 joint statement." the Prime Minister said, adding that "nothing will be done to compromise our nuclear weapons programme."
"The US will approach the NSG for full civilian nuclear cooperation with India," he said, adding that the nuclear Bill will widen India's development options. "We were nuclear pariah, today we have a status in the global nuclear order," he said.
He accepted that certain areas in the Indo-US nuclear bill do cause concern. He, however, claimed that "US does accept India as a nuclear weapons state" and clarified that the deal doesn't invite any "intrusive inspection of India's nuclear facilities."
"The national interests will be preserved at all costs," the Prime Minister told the House.
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