N-deal does not prohibit testing: Kakodkar

Allaying fears over the Indo-US nuclear deal, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar on Friday said the agreement did not prohibit nuclear tests.

He said there was no specific mention of the testing in the draft part and asserted there was a provision for cessation and termination of the agreement.

"India has own sovereign right to carry out a nuclear test," Kakodkar, who is also the secretary, the Department of Atomic Energy, told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Bangalore.

"In the text, there is no hindrance clause. There is no hindrance to activities outside the cooperation," he said. Kakodkar said steps had been spelt out in the agreement which also contain "the right to return".