Uproar in Indian parliament over remarks on nuclear deal

Aug 21, 2007, 12:18 GMT

New Delhi - There were repeated adjournments of India's Parliament Tuesday as lawmakers objected to alleged remarks by the ambassador to Washington, Ronen Sen, describing critics of a India-United States nuclear deal as 'headless chickens.'

Sen reportedly said in an interview to US-based website us.rediff.com: 'It has been approved here (in Washington) by the president, and there (in New Delhi) it's been approved by the Indian cabinet. So why do you have all this running around like headless chicken, looking for a comment here or a comment there, and these little storms in a tea-cup?'

Both the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the left allies of the Indian government have taken a stand against the deal which they see as a danger to India's strategic sovereignty.

'I am really bothered that 60 years after independence, they are so insecure - that we have not grown up, this lack of confidence and lack of respect,' Sen was quoted as saying.

Following uproarious scenes and protests in Parliament, during which members said Sen's comments were unacceptable and demanded his immediate recall, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the ambassador had been misquoted.

He read out a statement by Sen where he said his reference to running around of headless chickens was 'a tactless observation on some of my media friends and most certainly not with reference to any honourable MP (member of Parliament).'

Sen said some of the comments attributed to him in the 'off-the-record' conversation were made in his 'personal capacity' and 'do not reflect the positions of the government.' He also offered his unqualified apologies if he had unwittingly hurt any sentiments.

'In a democracy there will always be dissention and divergence of opinions. Nobody can accuse others who hold divergent views. I regret the alleged comments which have hurt the feelings of honourable members,' the foreign minister said.

But neither his comments nor Sen's clarification served to pacify the agitated lawmakers who continued to demand the envoy's recall.

Sen has been a key member of the team that negotiated the bilateral civilian nuclear deal with the US. After it is approved by the US Congress and the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, the deal will allow the US to trade in fissile materials and technology with India after a three-decade ban.