Patna: Amid jubilation in the ruling UPA over US congressional approval of the nuclear deal, BJP President Rajnath Singh today charged the Manmohan Singh Government with having "surrendered" country's right to develop a credible nuclear deterrent.

"Despite our (India's) not being signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Congress-led government has surrendered its right to develop a credible nuclear deterrent by being a party to this civil nuclear deal with the US," Singh told reporters.

"Our nuclear sovereignty is in danger. The deal has thrown India back to the times when the US had stopped supply of nuclear fuel to Tarapur reactor in the aftermath of Pokhran I in 1974."

"US Secretary of State Condollezza Rice has clearly stated that 123 Agreement is consistent with the Hyde Act, implying that nuclear fuel supplies would be stopped the moment India conducts a nuclear test," Singh said addressing a joint press conference with his JD(U) counterpart Sharad Yadav.

"When there are no curbs on China and Pakistan to conduct nuclear tests, what compelled the UPA Government to surrender its right (to nuclear tests)? The NDA will forcefully raise this issue during the upcoming Parliament session.... After all, people have the right to know the reasons for this abject surrender," he said.

Echoing Singh, Sharad Yadav charged the UPA with having "mortgaged" India s foreign policy to the US.

"The nuclear deal is aimed at boosting US nuclear commerce and has endangered India s strategic interests," he charged.
Source : PTI