Bush set to sign nuclear cooperation bill with IndiaWASHINGTON: President George W. Bush is set to sign into law Monday a bill that would allow shipments of civil nuclear fuel and technology to India in return for India's allowing safeguards at nuclear plants.
The administration has said that the landmark U.S.-India nuclear cooperation bill reflects the growing importance of India as a partner and ally.
Congress overwhelmingly approved the nuclear bill on Dec. 9. It would allow shipments of fuel and technology for India's allowing safeguards and inspections at 14 civilian nuclear plants; eight military plants would be off-limits.
Bush's signature would change U.S. law, but several steps remain before civil nuclear shipments could begin.
The two countries must obtain an exception for India in the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an assembly of nations that export nuclear material. Indian officials also must negotiate a safeguard agreement with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Then, once technical negotiations on an overall cooperation agreement are settled between the United States and India, Congress would have to vote for a final time.
Indian Scientists Say: Don't Do It!
Mumbai, Dec 17: A group of scientists on Sunday said India should not hurriedly sign the Indo-US nuclear deal till the concerns of the country's top nuclear scientists are addressed.
Since the public at large does not understand the nuances of the final US Congress Bill, which will be imposed on India once the deal goes through, it is in the interest of the future generations to work towards making the deal favourable to India, said members of the of the Atomic Energy Retirees' Welfare Association (AERWA).
They had a two-hour discussion with former atomic energy commission chairman P K Iyengar today on the occasion of "Pensioners Day".
Studying the final Bill passed by the US Congress on the Indo-US deal on December 8 is important while dealing with its discriminatory nature, they said.
Iyengar said, "Let us not accept the discriminatory process as we succeeded during the past 50 years. If we accept the deal by giving into their (US) conditions, then it is not in India's favour.
"In fact, we will do a disservice to our future generations and to their freedom for research and development," he said.
Iyengar asked members to study the Bill in detail on their own and find out how discriminatory it was, and not to listen to ad hoc statements issued by various people.