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Bush for lifting of sanctions against India

"Bush understands the security needs of India. He is against the CTBT and will not pressure India to sign the CTBt," Congress leader Murli Deora and chairman of Ethnic Republican in Detroit, Raj Bothra, who met the presidential candidate in Detroit said in Washington.

Bush said he was for immediate lifting of US sanctions against India, imposed in the wake of the nuclear tests, as he does not believe in reasons given by the Clinton administration for continuing them.

The Clinton administration has put signing of the CTBT by India as a precondition for lifting the sanctions.

Bush said Kashmir was a flash-point in Indo-Pakistan relations and agreed with the Indian stand that the solution to the problem should be found in accordance with the Shimla accord through bilateral negotiations.

Bush said he was for global reduction of nuclear weapons but realised that India and Pakistan were not going to give up nuclear weapons for security reasons.

Deora and Bothra said Bush emphasised that testing of nuclear weapons ensured their safety. "If you are going to have nuclear weapons they must be safe", Bush said.

Bush, who is also Texas Governor, praised Indian democracy and said the US shares the common values of democracy and the rule of law with India.

Referring to Pakistan, Bush said Indian democracy and tolerance of various religious faith would have a moderating influence on the Muslim world.

Emphasising the importance of India as a trading partner and its growing influence in information technology, Bush pointed out that there are a million and a half Indians living in US and they are playing an important role.

Agencies

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