Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mounted a strong defence of a controversial nuclear energy deal with the United States on Monday, saying it was crucial for the country's prosperity.
The historic deal, seen as the cornerstone of a new friendship between New Delhi and Washington, has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum and raised fears it could destabilise Singh's coalition. Critics say the deal is unfair, compromises India's nuclear sovereignty, and forces it to accept US influence over foreign and strategic policies.
But Singh, in a speech in parliament that was drowned out by the din of opposition protests, said he had redeemed a pledge to secure the best agreement. The pact finalised last month was "good for India, and good for the world", he declared.
"I am neither given to exaggeration, nor am I known to be self-congratulatory," Singh said reading from a text. "I will let history judge. I will let posterity judge the value of what we have done through this agreement.
The nuclear deal aims to give India access to US nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years to help meet its soaring energy needs, even though it has stayed out of non-proliferation pacts and tested nuclear weapons.
First agreed in principle two years ago, the framework deal was approved by the US Congress last December and the pact that governs nuclear trade between the two, called the 123 agreement, was finalised last month.
The 123 agreement has to get the backing of the US Congress after India secures other international approvals. Opposition lawmakers again trooped to the centre of the house as Singh began speaking, raising their fists in the air and shouting: "Scrap the nuclear deal"; "It's a fraud, it's a fraud" and "We don't want to become American stooges". But Singh continued to read his statement in defiance of the protests, saying there was nothing in the deal that infringed upon India's independence.
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