Thursday, February 9 2006 16:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Top nuclear scientists and experts have come out in full support of Atomic Energy Commission(AEC) chief Anil Kakodkar's stand that putting the fast breeder reactor programme under IAEA safeguards will jeopardise the country's strategic interests.

Backing Kakodkar, P K Iyengar, former AEC Chairman, asked "Why this government is backing on its words? We are a nuclear weapon country and it is for us to decide (on which reactors to put under IAEA safeguards).

"Clearly we should be able to tell the Americans that both BARC and Kalpakkam will be completely out of safeguards in addition to few others decided by the government," Iyengar said.

"Why is this Government supporting on issues where they(US) show double standards? he asked. The much-hyped CTBT and FMCT also fizzled out as they did not suit them," he quipped.

He said, even in US, the separation of civilian/military programme is not very distinct as for example Los Alamos and other strategic labs do research both on civilian and military strategies.

As a weapon state, and a non-signatory to NPT, "We should be able to decide as to what we want to emphasise asour priorities and a collective wisdom will help the government also," former Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre A N Prasad told PTI from Bangalore.