The AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha has asked the Centre to set up a committee consisting of members of Parliament, scientists and patriotic citizens to look into the 123 agreement between India and the US on civilian nuclear cooperation.

In a statement, she said any action on the deal should be taken by the Centre only after the committee gives its findings.

She demanded amendment of the Constitution to ensure that any deal India enters into with other countries gets the approval of two-thirds of members of both Houses of Parliament to ensure that the country’s sovereignty is protected.

Describing the 123 deal with the US as against India’s interests, she said there were harmful clauses relating to research centres, atomic power plants and processing and disposal of atomic waste.

The agreement also had clauses which would enable the US to intervene in India’s future atomic raw material research and production of nuclear weapons.

Referring to the US action against Iraq, its “threat” to North Korea and “preliminary moves” against Iran’s nuclear programme, Ms Jayalalitha asked, “ why should India submit of its own violation to American overlordship?”