New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday acknowledged that there are "areas" of concern in the bill recently passed by the American Congress on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, adding that these will be sorted out during talks on a separate agreement.
The Prime Minister also emphasised that the Government will do nothing that will hurt the country's interest.
While strongly defending the civil nuclear deal, he said in the Lok Sabha that the outcome of the bilateral 123 Agreement should be awaited and any judgement on the bill at the present juncture would be "premature".
"We will seek full civil nuclear cooperation on the terms acceptable to us," he said adding India will "find it difficult" to accept any "extraneous" elements, which were never part of the understanding of July 18 and March 2.
"There are areas (in the new US law) which continue to cause concern. We will need to discuss with the US administration before the 123 Agreement is finalised," he said.
While there are areas of concern in the bill, there are also elements which are welcome. The Prime Minister asserted that the deal will enable India to access nuclear technology and material that has been denied to it so far.
Emphasising that the civil nuclear deal with the US was essential for India to meet its energy needs, he maintained that the country's weapon programme was outside its purview.
Amid repeated thumping of desks by Treasury benches, he said India's strategic programme was never a part of discussions of the civil nuclear deal.
“The nuclear weapon programme will not be subject to external intrusion or scrutiny," Singh said intervening in the debate started by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.
The Prime Minister referred to the fact that the US had decided to cooperate in civil nuclear field despite India having a military programme, which is a "great advantage".
India may not be accepted as a nuclear weapon state as per the (normal) definition but many countries like the US, Russia, France and the United Kingdom are ready to accept the reality that India is a nuclear weapon state, he said.
Singh, who repeatedly referred to Advani during his 25-minute intervenion, said if his government makes any compromise of the kind, which hurts the country's interest, Parliament can take legitimate action.
The US government has assured India that it will fulfill the commitments it has made on July 18 and March 2, he said.
(With agency inputs)
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