Somnath rejected opposition demand for renegotiation of 123-agreement

NI Wire

New Delhi

Fri, 17 Aug 2007: 

Aug 17: Amidst the tugs of war between UPA and other parties, the external affair minister Pranab Mukherjee told Lok Sabha “The only restraint is our vuntary unitary moratorium on testing declared by the previous government and continued by the successor government”.

External affair minister was clarifying to the statement by U.S state department spokesperson Sean McCormack that the 123-agreement will be terminated if India will conduct nuclear test created uproar in the parliament.

Pranab Mukherjee responded, “There is nothing in bilateral agreement that will tie the hands of a future government or legally constraint its option. A decision to undertake a nuclear test will be a sovereign decision, resting solely with the government of India”.

He said that the agreement will not impair the three stage research and development programme.

The agreement is creating major rift between UPA and its supporter Left. Left will discuss the matter in its highest decision making body politburo within few days. Left said that the marriage is still on.

George Fernandez has again created controversy saying that Prime minister has breached the country and if he would have been in China he would have been shot. UPA has asked for the explanation from NDA.

George Fernandez has denied the charges; he said he has been misinterpreted.

In recent proceeding Somnath Chatterjee has said that this matter would not go for voting as under rule 184 but will keep this matter for discussion under rule 193.

"It is also well-established that there is no requirement to obtain ratification from Parliament of any treaty or agreement for its operation or enforcement", the Speaker said.

"Parliament can only discuss any treaty or agreement entered into by the government, without affecting its finality or enforceability," Chatterjee said.

He said allowing the motions would amount to disapproval of the agreement already entered into by the government, "which, in my opinion, is not within the competence of the House. What cannot be done directly cannot be achieved indirectly."

Rejecting the opposition demands of renegotiation Somnath Chatterjee said that it is the sovereign power of the government to enter an agreement and there is no need to seek parliament’s ratification.