The main opposition, NDA, on Monday asked the Centre  to constitute a parliamentary panel to study the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. It rejected the suggestion for an expert group to examine the Hyde Act and concerns voiced by the Left parties.

The NDA said as the entire country was concerned about the  deal, the issue had to be examined by a committee with representatives from all political parties.

While registering their objections to the proposed expert committee, BJP leaders felt that the government was  indeed “engaged in an exercise to buy time.” 

“This is not a family affair of the UPA and Left. It’s an issue that concerns the entire nation. Therefore, the government should put in place something like a committee comprising members of both Houses, to study the agreement,” BJP’s Deputy leader in Lok Sabha V K Malhotra told newspersons after an NDA meeting chaired by Opposition Leader L K Advani. “The government must wait for the recommendations of such a committee. Until then, the process should be halted,” Mr Malhotra said.

His comments came after reports suggested that the government might set up an expert group headed by the prime minister’s special envoy for the nuclear deal, Shyam Saran, to study the agreement in the light of the Left’s objections on the pact.

The ruling Congress has already rejected the BJP’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee.