NEW DELHI, 16 December 2005 — India told the Bush administration yesterday to use its “full weight” to get Congress to approve a landmark nuclear deal with New Delhi.
At the same time, it said it would permit no changes in the agreement to ensure its passage.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament the deal he struck with President George W. Bush on a visit to Washington in July — which would give India crucial access to civilian atomic technology — was a “binding commitment.”
Manmohan was seeking to allay Indian opposition suspicions that Washington has been asking for concessions from India and that New Delhi might grant them.
Manmohan told the Rajya Sabha yesterday: “If the US does not carry out its obligations, we are also free not to carry out our obligations.”
He said: “I expect the US administration to use its full weight to get the necessary approval of the US Congress.”
Regarding apprehensions voiced regarding certain facilities and reactors being placed under international supervision, Manmohan said that it was “an entirely Indian decision and, therefore, there is no question of any other country forcing India to put this facility or that facility under control.”
Expressing satisfaction with the progress made by the Nuclear Working Group headed by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and the US Under Secretary Nicholas Burns, Manmohan said that they had earlier held a “good meeting” and are likely to hold talks on Dec. 21-22.
“As far as the speculation as to what the US is going to insist, I think, I have said it before both the Houses of Parliament that the binding constraint is what is stated in the July 18 statement, which was jointly issued by President Bush and myself, and there is, I think, strict reciprocity,” Manmohan said.
Manmohan said: “I think we are trying to work out ways and means by which a satisfactory solution and through which both India and the US can honor their commitments.”
The agreement has been the target of loud criticism from some US lawmakers and proliferation experts, who complain it undermines international nuclear non-proliferation efforts and should be stricter.
Manmohan denied the deal was in trouble, saying there is “no stalemate” in implementing it.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said in New Delhi “nothing has been changed from the deal cut in July.”
The senior US official in New Delhi cautioned the agreement “will not be finished” by the time Bush is expected to visit India in the second half of February or the first half of March.
“This deal has a lot of moving parts, it takes time to be negotiated,” he said. At the same time, he said the agreement had “a good chance of passage” by Congress since it had bipartisan support.
The oil-import dependent nation is seeking to broaden its fuel sources to sustain its booming economy.
In response to a question from Amar Singh (Samajwadi Party) regarding India’s stand on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, Manmohan replied: “That is a question for the future. All that we have agreed is that we will work with other like-minded countries to facilitate the agreement on such a Treaty. When that Treaty will materialize, I think, it is very difficult for me to say.”
— with input from agencies
