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“In responding to the concerns earlier expressed by us, namely, the scientists, the Prime Minister stated in the Rajya Sabha on 17th August, 2005,” and I quote: “Nuclear weapons are an integral part of our national security and will remain so pending the elimination of all nuclear weapons and universal non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament. Our freedom of action with regard to our strategic programmes remains unrestricted.” This is the Prime Minister’s statement. I feel happy what he said about nuclear weapons being an integral part of our national security. “The nuclear agreement will not be allowed to be used as a backdoor method of introducing NPT type restrictions on India.” What will happen now? From Mrs. Gandhi’s time, we have refused firmly to accept the NPT. We will not accept the Non-Proliferation Treaty which imposes any restriction on our choice to go nuclear or not, which imposes other severe restrictions on us. We will not accept the NPT. We will not accept the CTBT. Now, by the backdoor, we are permitting ourselves to be a member of the NPT arrangement.

In fact, if this Bill is passed or if this deal is accepted as it is described by the Hyde Act, I am sorry.  Mr. Prime Minister, I know you have not been in favour of India going nuclear. Even at that time, when Pokharan-II was done, you had criticized us. You had criticized us for taking a step which would make prices skyrocketing. What would be there to defend them? I do not want to quote the whole speech that you made in the Rajya Sabha because you spearheaded the attack on the decision taken in Pokharan. I concede your right to do this. I do not deny that. But today you have said that nuclear weapons are an integral part of our national security, as I quoted, I welcome it. It is a change. But even with this change, if you allow this to happen, then it would mean that NPT comes into our country from the backdoor. We become part of it.

            My third objection is that when the first debate took place, the Prime Minister emphasised repeatedly the word ‘reciprocity’ and said that our arrangement with America is on the reciprocal basis. He used the phrase ‘reciprocity is key to the implementation of all the steps enumerated in the Joint Statement by President Bush and Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.’ He had assured Parliament on July 29, 2005. I quote:

“That India will reciprocally agree that it would be ready to assume the same responsibilities and practices and acquire the same benefits and advantages as other leading countries with advanced nuclear technology, such as the United States.”   The Hyde Act explicitly rules this out. As I said, it imposes fetters on us, shackles on the Indian nuclear military capability, which none of the five nuclear brahmIns are subjected to.

Madam, Herodotus once said and I quote:

“I am satisfied that people are less confidence of what we say than what we do.”               What we are doing is based on the directions of our national security, in the interest of the growth of our economy and in the direction of carving out a niche for our country in the global arena. [R63]                                                                                                          SHRI P.C. THOMAS (MUVATTUPUZHA): Madam, an assurance which has been given by the Prime Minister follows the earlier assurance which was given on 29th July, 2005, 27th February, 2006, 7th March, 2006 and thereafter.    Those assurances were to the effect that this deal would give full access to civilian nuclear technology, lift all sanctions for not signing the NPT and not to limit India’s strategic nuclear programme.