The Indo-US nuclear deal may have secured the approval of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yet India finds it unacceptable because of a change in language from the 123 Agreement it negotiated with the US.
India has expressed its reservations about the bill, stating that it would be difficult for India to accept the change of language and spoke of the significant issues it raised.
A part of the bill, which the Committee titled the 'United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act,' that India found unpalatable were in particular that it had to be in strict conformity with the Hyde Act, and also that in the event India tests, the US would not simply 'discourage' other Nuclear Supplier Group members to deny India nuclear equipment, materials and technology to India but work to 'prevent' such transfers.
Also, that the commitments regarding fuel supplies are indeed political and not legally binding.
In Section 101, titled Approval of Agreement, and sub-section (b) with regard to Applicability of Atomic Energy Act of 1954, Hyde Act, and other provisions of Law, the legislation approved by the Committee said, "The Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the Henry J Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006, and any other applicable United States law."
Image: A Washington-based journalist (not in image) shows the controversial parts of the Indo-US Nuclear Bill.
Text: Aziz Haniffa | Photographs: Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia
Also read: Coverage: Indo-US Nuclear Tango
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