Linking the court verdict in the Bhopal gas tragedy case with the nuclear liability bill, BJP today made a strong plea to the government to reconsider the draft legislation contending that it "shielded" private suppliers.

Terming the verdict as "painful", BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the investigative agencies should immediately commence appellate proceedings against the court order which gave those convicted only two years imprisonment.

"It's painful. After 25 years of hearing, the accused have got only two years of imprisonment. The CBI should go into appeal immediately against the verdict," he told reporters.

Noting that discussions were underway on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill, Prasad said "the government should learn proper lessons from Bhopal gas tragedy. The bill, as envisaged, puts any criminal liability only on the nuclear operator."

"We urge the government not to rush with the crucial legislation. In light of bitter experience of Bhopal, the government should reconsider the nuclear bill seriously," he said.

The Bill, that proposes a maximum limit of liability in case of a nuclear accident at Rs 500 crore, was introduced in the Lok Sabha last month amid stiff resistance from the Opposition BJP and Left parties.

It has since been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology chaired by Congress leader T Subbirami Reddy.

Opposition parties have argued that the compensation amount in the bill was too little and want the government to hike it.