Even as India initiated negotiations on country-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA in Vienna, the government told the Lok Sabha that atomic programme can develop ?faster? if international cooperation in the field is allowed.
The government?s pitch came as a team of officials led by atomic energy commission chief Anil Kakodkar held talks with IAEA director general Mohammed ElBaradei and other officials. The Indian delegation?s visit to Vienna was finalised after the Left parties gave a conditional go-ahead to the government to hold talks with IAEA last Friday.
Justifying the Indo-US nuclear deal, minister of state in the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan said in the Lower House that India needs to have international cooperation to acquire uranium technology and fuel, which is insufficient in the country. Noting that all countries in the world had uranium-based nuclear programmes, he said in reply to questions that India is deficient in the fuel and whatever reserves existed would be exhausted after some time.