India reacted with caution yesterday to the US House of Represent-atives' approval of a bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation accord aimed at allowing the US to trade in nuclear materials and technology with India.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the deal was far from being signed yet and advised patience in a statement in the Indian parliament.
He also assured parliament that India would not agree to any deviation from the agreement arrived at by Singh and US President George W. Bush on July 18 last year.
Both leftist partners of Singh's United Progressive Alliance government and opposition parties have expressed reservations about the deal, saying it may impact India's independent strategic policy.
Members of the opposition Bhaatiya Janata Party and the regional Samajwadi Party staged a walk-out from parliament yesterday demanding a detailed discussion on the issue.
The bill to approve the India-US nuclear deal was overwhelmingly approved, 359-68, by the US Congress on Wednesday and must now be approved by the US Senate before being signed into law by Bush, the Washington Post said.
The accord, finalized during Bush's trip to India in March, offers India access to US nuclear technology, despite the fact the energy-hungry country has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
US policy has been to restrict nuclear cooperation with non-signatory India, which has twice tested nuclear weapons, in 1974 and 1998.
Under the accord India will be required to separate its military and civilian programs and, for the first time, to submit current and future civilian reactors to UN inspections. Military and weapon facilities will not be internationally monitored.
While the US House voted overwhelmingly against suggested amendments to the bill, the Senate's version is reportedly more cautious in its approach. A vote in the Senate is not expected until September.
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