Senator meets PM, allays concerns over nuclear pact
A prominent US senator met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday in an effort to allay concerns that a new joint nuclear pact could put New Delhi at odds with Iran.
Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, said he urged Singh to move ahead with the deal because it would benefit both India and the US.
New Delhi is concerned about a non-binding clause, inserted by the US Congress, that directs the White House to determine whether India is co-operating with Washington’s efforts to confront Iran about its nuclear programme.
Under the deal, the United States agreed to supply the Indian power industry with fuel and technology, reversing 30 years of US atomic policy.
In exchange, India has agreed to place 14 civilian nuclear plants under international inspections. Eight military plants would remain off-limits.
There are fears that the deal could limit India’s right to reprocess spent atomic fuel and employ other sensitive nuclear technologies.
Specter, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said “the United States will be flexible in negotiations” on the agreement.