The Civil Nuclear Liability Bill was not aimed at pleasing any "particular" country but at developing a mechanism for "prompt" compensation for victims of a nuclear accident, minister of state for science and technology Prithviraj Chavan said on Wednesday.
“I am very happy to consider the nuclear bill today, which culminates the journey which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took in July 2005,” Mr Chavan said. He said the government has tried to take on board views and concerns of all parties by bringing 18 amendments that have strengthened the bill that was introduced and referred to a parliamentary panel in May 2010.
Chavan was speaking in the Lok Sabha before moving the legislation that has been a subject of fierce wrangling between the government and the opposition. The bill is likely to be passed by the House after a short discussion.
“This is an unprecedented political consensus we have reached... There was a slight confrontation but we have bridged our differences,” he said.
Referring to “some concerns of the Left parties”, the minister said: “This is not to help any particular country… We want to expand our choice to get the best deal… Therefore, it is certainly not to please any particular country.”
“This,” he said, “is for the prompt compensation of victims in case of a nuclear accident.” “We have seen what happened in Bhopal. This is to ensure that victims don't have to run from pillar to post for compensation.”