INDIA/USA: Indian analysts react to US Congress approval of US-India nuclear bill

Record ID: 1375239

  • Title: INDIA/USA: Indian analysts react to US Congress approval of US-India nuclear bill
  • Date: 9th December 2006
  • Summary: (BN09) NEW DELHI (DECEMBER 9, 2006) (ANI) SETUP OF CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, CENTRE FOR CANADIAN, US AND LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, CENTRE FOR CANADIAN, US AND LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES, SAYING: "It is a good deal for India and a very good deal for the United States of America. It is a good deal for India because we are going to be the consumers of the new technology that may come from the U.S. and from other countries. It is very very good for the U.S. because it has belatedly woken up to the reality of a new India, which is emerging. It wants to establish its strategic partnership with India and the nuclear deal is going to provide the foundation for the new strategic partnership." (SUBCON) NEW DELHI (DECEMBER 9, 2006) (ANI) (SOUNDBITE)(English) UDAY BHASKAR, ANALYST, INSTITUTE OF DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSIS, SAYING: "So after 30 odd years the US came to the determination that it would serve US strategic interests in the 21st Century to have a closer and more robust relationship with India. And in a very innovative way, and here I think one must give due credit to Mr Bush and US Secretary of State Ms Condoleezza Rice, that they were able to pick up this bone of contention, the nuclear issue, and convert it into an area of potential co-operation. So that to my mind is the very innovative political dimension of the July 2005 agreement." (BN09) NEW DELHI (DECEMBER 9, 2006) (ANI) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PURUSHOTTAM AGGRAWAL, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ANALYST, SAYING: "From the Indian point of view, there are two interesting factors. One, there was an apprehension that the Democrats are opposed to the nuclear deal. Now, after these mid-term polls for the Congress in U.S.A Democrats have come up quite handsomely, and yet the nuclear deal is through. So, this is an interesting development from India's point of view and apparently, there seems to be a consensus about the importance and significance of India in U.S. political establishments. And, this consensus is directly linked with the fast growing Indian economy." (SUBCON) AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT (DECEMBER 9, 2006) (ANI) (SOUNDBITE) (English) SITARAM YECHURY, SENIOR LEADER, COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MARXIST), SAYING: "There is nothing to oppose now, see at the moment there is nothing being entered that we can support or oppose. On this basis now they will draft the bill, the actual bill. Now the really hard core negotiations begin on the basis of what the US Congress has passed. Now what will emerge from that? That is something we will have to decide to oppose or support. So that, what will emerge from this, in the bill, that is what we said is what the Prime Minister's assurance to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), in August . They must be adhered to . That is your bottom line.
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2006 12:43
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA6D0J1JXSQK0KSSRKYYG3GPIDR
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Indian analysts said both India and United States stood to gain from the freshly drafted US-India nuclear deal approved by the U.S. Congress on Saturday (December 9).
    The U.S. Congress took a major step towards permitting the sale of American-made nuclear reactors and fuel to India by giving its final approval to a White House-backed Bill early on Saturday.
    The Senate approved the measure unanimously following its passage late on Friday (December 8) by the House of Representatives, 330-59. It now goes to President George W. Bush for his signature on Monday (December 11, 2006).
    Chintamani Mahapatra, Professor of International Studies, Center for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said the deal augured well for both nations.
    "It is a good deal for India and a very good deal for the United States of America. It is a good deal for India because we are going to be the consumers of the new technology that may come from the U.S., and from other countries. It is very very good for the U.S. because it has belatedly woken up to the reality of a new India, which is emerging. It wants to establish its strategic partnership with India and the nuclear deal is going to provide the foundation for the new strategic partnership," Mahapatra said.
    The Bush Administration and its allies contend that the commercial delivery of nuclear energy to power short India will foster a broad range of ties with the world's largest democracy and rising South Asian power, opening up billions of dollars worth of trade for American companies.
    Critics decried the Bill as a historic mistake that would undermine U.S. efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons.
    Other critical approvals -- by the Congress for a second time, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group -- are needed before the agreement takes effect. That will not happen before some time next year.
    The deal reverses 30 years of U.S. policy that, until July 2005, opposed nuclear co-operation with India because the country had developed nuclear weapons in contravention of international non-proliferation standards, and never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
    "After 30-odd years, the U.S. has come to a determination that it would serve the U.S. strategic interests in the 21st century to have a closer and more robust relation with India. And in a very innovative way, and here I think one must give due credit to Mr. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice, that they were able to pick a bone of contention- the nuclear issue- and convert it into an area of potential co-operation. That, to my mind, is the very innovative political dimension of the July 2005 agreement," said Uday Bhaskar, analyst, at Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis.
    A multi-million dollar lobbying campaign by India and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was largely successful in preventing the U.S. Congress from adding non-proliferation requirements which New Delhi found unfair.
    Purshottam Lal Aggarwal, an international relations analyst based in New Delhi, said the apparent "consensus" between the Republicans and the Democrats on the U.S.-India civil nuclear was a good sign.
    "From the Indian point of view, there are two interesting factors. One, there was an apprehension that the Democrats are opposed to the nuclear deal. Now, after these mid-term polls for the Congress in U.S.A Democrats have come up quite handsomely, and yet the nuclear deal is through. So, this is an interesting development from India's point of view and apparently, there seems to be a consensus about the importance and significance of India in U.S. political establishments. And, this consensus is directly linked with the fast growing Indian economy," Aggarwal said.
    But chief Congressional sponsors said the legislation -- a compromise between competing House and Senate versions -- does include some restraints.
    For one thing, it ensures that if India tests another nuclear device as in May 1998, Bush "must terminate all export and re-export of U.S.-origin nuclear materials" to India.
    India's Communists, who provide crucial support to the federal ruling Congress- led coalition, and have time and again voiced apprehensions about the accord, were guarded in their reaction to passage of the deal.
    "Now, the real hardcore negotiations begin, on the basis of what the U.S. Congress has passed. Now, what emerges from that is something that we'll have to decide whether we oppose or support������� What was the Prime Minister's assurance to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament), that must be adhered to. That is the bottom line," said Sitaram Yechury, senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
    The Left parties have been warning the government that entering the agreement might increase U.S. influence on India's foreign policy.
    As the lead signatory of the NPT, the United States has been obligated to forswear assistance to nuclear programs of states that don't sign the treaty.
    Experts say India has already produced about 50 nuclear weapons and plans to reach up to 400 in a decade.
    Many fear that selling India U.S.-origin fuel for civilian energy use will free New Delhi's indigenous uranium stocks for weapons.
    The compromise retained a Senate ban on enrichment, reprocessing and heavy water production co-operation with India.
    Under pressure from New Delhi, negotiators have softened a requirement that American presidents certify India as actively co-operating in restraining Iran's nuclear program as a condition to receive nuclear co-operation from the United States.
    The new provision requires presidents to report annually to the U.S. Congress on India's performance in this matter, but would not end nuclear co-operation if India fails to meet these expectations.
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