Following is the reaction of parties on the India-specific safeguards agreement being approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency:

Historic day for country, says Cong
The Congress party has hailed as 'historic' the IAEA's endorsement of the India-specific safeguards agreement and expressed confidence that India would succeed in obtaining the approval of Nuclear Suppliers Group in the run-up to the operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear deal.

"It is a welcome step. It is a historic day for the country. It is a success of our diplomacy and our political leadership, which successfully negotiated with the IAEA," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told PTI.

An important day for India: PM

He said since 26 countries, which are members of the IAEA, are also members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, 'this will help us a lot'.

"We will be successful in arriving at an agreement with the NSG and also in remaining steps," he added.

It doesn't recognize India as N-state: Left
The Left parties say that the approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement does not recognise India's nuclear weapon status or protect its interests on issues like uninterrupted fuel supply assurances.

Explained: IAEA safeguards agreement

Pointing out that former American pointsman on the Indo-US nuclear deal Nicholas Burns had stated that the 123 agreement was 'absolutely consistent' with the Hyde Act, Left leaders said this clearly showed that their concerns were 'totally true'.

The Left parties, which withdrew support to the UPA government on the issue, would now 'go to the people to expose the government'.

"Burns had said that the Hyde Act will prevail but our government says the US law will have no impact. We have been opposing the deal because it is not in India's interest and that is why we withdrew support. There is no change in the Left position," CPI National Secretary D Raja told PTI.