Government backs off – nuclear liability bill deferred

New Delhi: With opposition parties stating unequivocally that they would oppose the nuclear damage liability bill if it should be introduced in the Lok Sabha, the government beat a hasty retreat on Monday deferring its introduction. The government circulated the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill on Friday and was preparing to introduce it in the Lok Sabha on Monday. That plan of action has now been aborted.

The bill is a key step in the operationalisation of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, as US companies cannot commence nuclear trade with India unless and until potential liabilities occurring from any accident are covered through the provisions of such a bill.

"I have a request from the minister Prithviraj Chavan that government does not intend to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill on Monday," Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar announced in the House.

As the bill was mentioned in the list of business for the day and the government's decision sparked immediate protests from the opposition. Leader of the opposition in the House, Sushma Swaraj, demanded that since the matter was listed, a motion had to be moved for withdrawal of the bill from the agenda. The demand, however, was rejected by the Speaker who pointed out that the bill was yet to be introduced in the House.

The ruling prompted NDA working chairman, LK Advani, to demand that the government explain to the House why it was backing off from introducing the bill as it had been listed.

Earlier, on Saturday, the Left parties had firmly rejected overtures from the ruling UPA formation at the Centre to support the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill.