"The US legislative process is still on. There is the Senate bill," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told India's upper house of parliament after the US House of Representatives cleared the deal by a 359-68 vote.

"If the US legislative process leads to an end product not consistent with what we have commited to, that will be the determining factor of what we do next," he said.

On Wednesday Singh said India would "never compromise in a manner which is inconsistent with the provisions of the joint statement" that he and US President George Bush signed in July 2005 to share civil nuclear technology.

Indian lawmakers have voiced concern that the Senate will attach riders to the agreement that would impose more curbs on India's nuclear program in addition to those agreed during negotiations.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that the final legislation "must not deviate" from the agreement.

Singh told lawmakers that he had asked the US administration for assurances that the "goalposts are not tampered with."

The United States has withheld its civil nuclear know-how from India since 1974 when it conducted its first nuclear test.

India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998 and, as a result, is banned by the United States and other major powers from buying fuel for atomic reactors and other related equipment.

Democratic and Republican leaders in both houses of Congress have expressed strong support for the bill.

Supporters see the deal as a sign of a geopolitical re-alliance following the Cold War, one which allows India to jump-start its quest for alternative energy, as its economy booms. New Delhi relies on imported oil for some 70 percent of its energy needs.

But some US politicians have expressed doubts about extending civil nuclear technology to India, which is not a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, without first putting the most stringent safeguards in place.

Although attempts to pass amendments that would place further restrictions on India's nuclear program failed in the House, the Senate is expected to take a tougher stance.

"The next step will be much trickier for us," C. Raja Mohan, a strategic analyst, told Indian news channel NDTV.

"The Senate bill has some objectionable components to it and for us now the challenge is to make sure the language gets diluted or removed."

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has said it is concerned the agreement would make the country "perpetually dependent" on the United States for all its nuclear energy initiatives.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News