Saturday, January 7 2006 16:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today (Jan 7, 2006) attacked the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for submitting to the US a plan for separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities without taking the Union Cabinet, Parliament or the Opposition into confidence.

In a statement issued here, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged that the negotiations on the July 18 nuclear deal were being conducted in a 'hush-hush manner' here even as the Congress-led Government had no reservation in the plan being unveiled before the US Congress.

"We learn from the media that the plan for the separation of civilian and military nuclear facilities has been submitted to the US authorities," Sinha said.

"At the same time, the Government has informed the US authorities that it would have no objection to the plan submitted by it being shared with the US Congress," he said.

Noting that the issue would have an impact on India's nuclear programme in the future, Sinha said, "Yet, in making such a far reaching commitment, the Government does not think fit to take into confidence the people of India, the Parliament, the Opposition leaders, its alliance partners and even its own Cabinet but has no objection to the US Congress being taken into confidence."