US House of Representatives to pass US-India nuke deal soon

Washington, Dec 8 (UNI) The US House of Representatives today discussed a resolution, seeking to implement the US-India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and is awaiting the outcome of the division which was due to the insistence of the opposition Democrats.

According to Congressional sources, the process of voting will begin soon with a possibility that the measure would be adopted with an overwhelming majority.

The resolution, based on the unanimous report of the House-Senate conferees, will go before the Senate which is expected to endorse it today because the Congress is going into Christmas recess tonight.

The measure will enable India to buy US nuclear technology fuel after a ban of 30 years and in return, New Delhi will accept international inspection on its non-military nuclear installations.

Earlier, during the discussion, Republican members extended full cooperation to the agreement and preferred not to speak on the resolution, apparently to allow its quick disposal.

The opposition to the agreement, as expected, came mostly from Democrats who felt that the exception made in the US non-proliferation laws in case of India, would weaken the Bush administration's position in dealing with Iran and North Korea as both of them are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.

They questioned the rationale of showing this leniency to India which had not only tested nuclear device but had also declined to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), the very basis of the global non-proliferation regime.

Mr Markey called the agreement a "historic mistake," arguing that it would lead to an armed race between India, China and Pakistan, resulting in the instability in the volatile region.

He said India would use the fuel imported under this agreement for its civilian purposes and the indigenous fuel it would use for building weapons.

He quoted experts who argue that India has the capacity to build seven nuclear bombs a year and with this agreement it would be able to assemble 40 to 50 nuclear bombs every year.

Mr Markey said that Pakistan, which had the capacity to build two to three bombs a year, would try to match India's strength. With the influence of Al-Qaeda and a weak government, there were genuine fears of Pakistan nuclear technology and weapons falling into the hands of terrorists, he said. Other Democratic lawmakers -- Mr Dennis Kucinich and Mr David Wu -- also opposed the agreement. Their argument was that it would result in instability in the region and in the world.

Their party colleague Ms Jackson Lee drew satisfaction from the fact that the bill, as it had emerged from House-Senate conferees' meeting, contained checks and balance in the form of safeguards.

The only Democrat who extended unqualified support to the measure was Mr Frank Pallone, founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

He recalled the United States' "important strategic partnership" with India and said this deal was "a critical component to a continued, successful partnership." He said the agreement would strengthen energy security for the US and India and promote the development of "stable and efficient energy markets in India to ensure adequate and affordable supplies." Mr Pallone said, "this deal is also the foundation of a promising US-India alliance that will serve as a defence against terrorism and nuclear proliferation. The US has an important stake in ensuring regional stability in South Asia, even as Pakistan continues to produce and test nuclear weapons without proper safeguards." ''With the rising power of Communist China in the region and Osama bin Laden continuing to hide in Afghanistan or Pakistan, we need India as our strategic ally,'' he said.

UNI