Seeking to avert trouble from opposition, the government today deferred introduction in Lok Sabha of nuclear liability bill that provides for compensation in the event of an accident and indicated that it could be delayed till the second half of the budget session next month.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010, a key step in operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, was listed for introduction in the House but at the last moment the government said it was not going ahead with it today.

"I have a request from the Minister Prithviraj Chavan that government does not intend to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill today," Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar announced in the House.

This triggered protests from the opposition with NDA Working Chairman L K Advani asking the government to tell the House why the Bill was deferred suddenly.

Pointing out that the Bill was important part of business of the day, Advani said, "The government should tell the House why it is not introducing the bill. Government should tell the House whether it has a re-think on it or whether they are not introducing because of opposition to the bill," he said.

While there was no response from the government to this in the House, Chavan later told reporters that the Bill was deferred as members had raised objections. "Government will try to meet these objections formally or informally," he said.

Indicating that it would not be introduced in the first half of the Budget Session that ends tomorrow, he said, "There is no urgency to introduce the bill".

The decision to defer the bill came as Left parties had declared their intention to oppose its introduction citing certain objections to its contents. .

Responding to Left parties' demand that the Bill should be referred to Parliamentary Standing Committee, Chavan said it was the right of the House to do so.

He justified the bill saying there was no law at present that governs award of compensation in event of a nuclear accident.

India could even tap international funds to provide compensation in such event if it becomes party to the international convention in this regard, Chavan said.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj demanded that since the matter was listed, a motion had to be moved for withdrawal of the Bill from the agenda.

The Speaker, however, rejected the demand saying such a motion cannot be moved as the bill has not been introduced in the House.

Objecting to the government's decision, Swaraj said, "The House does not run by the intention of the government but by rules of the House."

Left parties have dubbed the Bill as "a harmful piece of legislation meant to serve the interests of the United States and its nuclear industry."

Describing the legislation as "an outcome of the India-US nuclear deal", they said, "The government is seeking to fulfil a hidden commitment to deliver the legislation that safeguards the interests of the United States at the expense of the safety of Indian people."

The BJP has said it had "serious reservations" on the bill "since it caps the liability of American firms". .