Kochi: Backing out from the Indo-US nuclear deal will deny India access to a permanent source of energy, top nuclear scientist M R Srinivasan has said.

It will also deny the country overseas nuclear technology, the member of National Security Advisory Board said delivering a lecture on Indo-US Nuclear Agreement and its Impact on Indian Economy organised by the Kerala Management Association here last night.

Srinivasan said without the agreement, the country will have much more to lose. "Not only access to American nuclear technology, but also cooperation with Russia and France."

However, he acknowledged that the Hyde Act, the base of the nuclear deal, was not not completely in favour of India. "Probably the Act does not allow us a further nuclear test and has provision regarding termination of treaty in that," the former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said. But any agreement reached between two parties will not completely satisfy both of them, he added.

On the uncertainty on going ahead with the deal, Srinivasan said, "if we had a political consensus, the current situation would not have arisen". The Left parties, supporting the UPA government from outside, should set aside their concerns against India entering into a treaty with the US. "In the coalition era we are living in, it is best that a measure of consensus is built on vital issues, including the nuclear deal," he said. 

Source : PTI