India conveys concerns on N-bill to US

India has conveyed its concerns to the United States about the current versions of the American legislation relating to Indo-US nuclear deal, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Replying to written questions, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said an amendment to the waiver bill passed by the US Senate on November 16, 2006, to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation with India envisages setting up of a Cooperative Threat Reduction programme to further common non-proliferation goals.

However, no prior discussion on setting up such a programme had taken place between the two governments, he said.

By its very nature, establishing such a programme will require the agreement of government of India, which will take a decision after fully taking into account all aspects of the country's national security, Mukherjee said.

In fact, the US Congress had earlier legislated on establishing a CTR programme with India under the Department of Defence Appropriations Act 2002, which has not been implemented, he pointed out.

"It is our position that the final legislation adhere as closely as possible to the understandings contained in the India-US Joint Statement of July 18, 2005 and the March 2006 Separation Plan," he said.