The government on Wednesday extended an olive branch to the Opposition by maintaining that it was prepared to “coolly” discuss the proposed Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, including the charge that the compensation limit of Rs. 500 crore payable by the operator in the event of a nuclear accident was too low.
The government was forced to defer the introduction of the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday after firm opposition from the Left and the BJP.
“I think there is a lot of scare being created by certain political parties, particularly by our Left friends. The moment the issue of any likely foreign participation comes up, there is a red flag. These issues could be coolly discussed either in Parliament or on the Standing Committee, or we are willing to discuss it at personal meetings,” Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said on the sidelines of a meeting on nuclear energy organised here by Assocham.
