My interview with the Indian Express at Hyderabad about the Indo-US nuclear deal is sought to be projected as the party'su-turn from its earlier position. Actually, it was intended to clarify how the BJP'sopposition to the agreement stems from considerations of pure national interest, and not from any kind of anti-Americanism which may be motivating the Leftist parties.
The position of the BJP on this vital question has been stated consistently and unambiguously in a series of statements over the last two years. Each of the statements has been fully deliberated upon and approved by the senior most leaders of the party under the guidance and in the presence of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. These are the statements that my colleagues, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie were asked to release to the media. These statements embody the Party'sconsidered view on every aspect of the deal. There is no change in that position.
In my interview, I sought to emphasise that the provisions of the Hyde Act militate against India'ssovereignty?in particular, in regard to the conduct of our foreign policy. When enforced, they will seriously impair our nuclear weapons programme, and thereby jeopardize our strategic objectives.
The 123 Agreement is the first step towards operationalising the Hyde Act, and other US laws. Several of the requirements of those laws have been built into the 123 Agreement. Moreover, the Agreement specifically provides that, in implementing it, the party concerned?the US in this case?shall be governed by its national laws. Hence, provisions of the Hyde Act and other relevant laws shall apply with full force.
These facts are indisputable?and just as unacceptable. They push the country not into a ?strategic partnership? with the USA but a ?strategic subservience? to the USA, which the BJP cannot accept.
A suggestion has been made recently that, as the domestic laws of the US are the ones that are causing the problem, we should examine whether we can alter our laws, such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 in such a way as to insulate our strategic objectives. If that can be done, we should strengthen our laws, and, on the basis of those altered laws, renegotiate the 123 Agreement.
(Remarks of Shri L.K. Advani in regard to the Indo-US nuclear deal at the BJP Parliamentary Party Meeting on August 30, 2007)
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