BJP on Monday accused the UPA of trying to push the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010, in Lok Sabha under U.S. pressure and said it would never support the legislation as by putting all liability on the government, it was transferring this burden to the taxpayer.
“The Bill not only limits the liability, it also transfers a large part of the liability to the Government, in other words, the taxpayer,” senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said.
BJP, which had earlier demanded that the government give an explanation as to why it was deferring tabling of the Bill after listing it in the day’s business in the Lok Sabha, also does not want a cap on the liability.
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Mr. Sinha himself wrote a letter to the Secretary General, Lok Sabha, citing the problems BJP has with the Bill.
BJP alleged that the Bill was being brought under U.S. pressure mainly to keep two American multinationals — Westinghouse and General Electric — from paying any liability and making the Indian government liable to pay in case of an accident. “We will never accept this Bill,” Mr. Sinha said.
Opposition leaders alleged that U.S. was putting pressure on India after Union Carbide had to pay huge compensation to victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj on Sunday to convince her, Mr. Sinha said, adding that BJP would not relent.