NSA explains merits of n-Bill to BJP brass

After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached out to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Sunday,seeking the Oppositions support on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill,National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon called on the party leadership on Wednesday to discuss the Bill. Menon met Swaraj,her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley,Murli Manohar Joshi,Yashwant Sinha and S S Ahluwalia to convince them of the merits of the Bill, said BJP sources.

Sources said the NSA sought to clear the air about apprehensions that the Bill favoured US companies by letting them off the hook in the event of a mishap. BJP reiterated its opposition to the Bill in its present form and said a rethink was possible only if a fresh draft was presented. This was Menons second meeting with BJP leaders.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill slated to be introduced in the Lok Sabha was yet another example of poor floor management by the government. A government is presumed to enjoy a majority in the House of People and yet it was outnumbered. The united Opposition succeeded,exposing the poor floor management of the government. We hope this united opposition to the Bill will compel the government to revisit its decision, a statement issued by Sushma and Jaitley said.