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Title:Requesting the Minister of External Affairs to make a statement on the signing of CTBT agreement.

SHRI K. NATWAR SINGH (BHARATPUR): Sir, we are in the same position as Dr. Subramanian Swamy with regard to the statement made by the External Affairs Minister in reply to Dr. Kurien's question as to whether India will sign the CTBT or not. Today, we see in the papers that the US Secretary of State has said that they are going to sign it. We seek a clarification on this. Let the Government come forward and clarify this.

SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE (BOLPUR): Sir, this is a serious matter. Only two days back the Minister makes a statement and today his American counterpart says something totally different. All sorts of confabulations are going on between them and the country is taken for a ride. We demand that it must be clarified here.

DR. SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY (MADURAI): Is this why the talks are being held in secrecy? We want to know what the gist of the talks is. We want to know what the minutes are. Let the minutes be placed on the Table of the House.

DR. SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY : Sir, the issue is whether Shri Jaswant Singh has misled our Parliament or he has misled Mr. Strobe Talbott.

... (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: It is a serious matter. Order please.

DR. SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY : I do not know whether the Foreign Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh has misled the House or misled Mr. Strobe Talbott or misled himself. We do not know whether records are maintained. For such discussions, normally records are maintained and minutes are kept. I do not know whether it has been done and the summary of discussions has been kept. But the US officials have been speaking in all world capitals and then an assurance has been given by this Government that after the Budget session of Parliament, they will sign the CTBT. That is what they are saying. We necessarily believe it. But why this confusion there? Why would Mr. Strobe Talbott stick to his prestige before the US Congress would say India would sign, if they have not misled them? Therefore, let him say what was also said in the Consultative Committee of External Affairs that there is no question of signing CTBT. There is no harm in saying it again and place it on the Table of the House the proceedings and the summary of discussions that have taken place so far.