Government trying to 'obfuscate' nuclear liability law: CPI(M)

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) today attacked the BJP government for trying to "obfuscate" the nuclear liability law and said it would strongly oppose any move to amend the law or "manipulate" rules to promote the interest of US nuclear suppliers.

The government statement on the Indo-US nuclear deal "appears clearly to be batting for the US companies and not protecting India's interest," senior party leader Sitaram Yechury told PTI over phone from Vijayawada.

The government has indulged in a "huge effort to obfuscate the (nuclear liability) law as passed by Parliament. Its assurance on clause 46 of the law are directed at protecting the profit maximisation drive of US nuclear equipment suppliers and not the Indian people against possible disatter," the CPI(M) politburo member said.

He said, "This is shocking, even after the Bhopal gas tragedy experience."

On the clause 17(B) of the Nuclear Liability Act, he said so long this provision remains part of the law, no supplier can be absolved of liability in case faulty equipment causes a disaster.

If clause 46 remains, no victim of nuclear disaster can be prevented from filing for damages against the equipment supplier in any court in any part of the world.

"If the Modi government wishes to be subservient to US interest, this can be done by amending this Act. That would be a shameful surrender by the BJP which was an active participant in amending the original UPA-2 Bill to incorporate both these clauses," he said.

In the interest of India, and to protect its people against the mercenary profit maximisation drive of US multinationals, CPI(M) will resolutly oppose any attempt by Modi government to amend the law or manipulatre the rules to promote American interest, Yechury said.