US House of Representatives begins debate on Indo-US deal

Washington, July 26 (UNI) The House of Representatives today began the debate on the landmark legislation to give effect to the ''historic civilian nuclear deal'' which will lift a 30-year old restriction and open the gates of American nuclear technology and fuel to India.

The House, which dispensed a mixture of bills and other legislative business began the debate around 1600 hrs (local time).

The vote will come at the end of a two- hour-long debate on the legislation and its accompanying six amendments that have been moved today.

The nuclear cooperation agreement, broadly based on what was envisaged by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, would lift three-decades-long restrictions and allow the US to sell technology to assist India's civilian nuclear sector. In return, India would open up its civilian nuclear plants to international inspection.

Some of the Congressmen, underling the importance of the Indo-US relations believe that the deal, allowing India to buy American technology and nuclear reactors for the first time in 30 years, ''could be the most important step made in cementing a critical partnership between India and the United States.