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US House backs India nuclear bill US approves Indian nuclear deal
(about 6 hours later)
The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of allowing the export of civilian nuclear fuel to India. The US Congress has voted in favour of allowing the export of civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time in 30 years.
The bill, passed by 330 votes to 59, must now be approved by the Senate, before it is sent to President George W Bush to be signed into law. The legislation will now be sent to President George W Bush to be signed into law.
The deal offers India US nuclear technology in exchange for inspectors' access to Indian civilian reactors. The vote follows an agreement earlier this year between Mr Bush and the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.
The accord has been hailed as historic by some, but critics say it will damage non-proliferation efforts.The accord has been hailed as historic by some, but critics say it will damage non-proliferation efforts.
"India is a state that should be at the very centre of our foreign policy and our attention," Democrat congressman Tom Lantos said. It was approved by the House of Representatives on Friday evening and the Senate early on Saturday.
He said a partnership with India could help regulate the peaceful and responsible spread of nuclear power. Weapons sites off-limits
If the bill becomes law it will allow the export of civilian nuclear energy and technology to India for the first time in 30 years.
The vote followed a landmark agreement last year between Mr Bush and the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, which overturned three decades of US anti-proliferation policy.
Previously the US was opposed to Indian nuclear activities because it had not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has twice tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and 1998.
'Compromise bill'
The final bill was said to have been altered to take into account some Indian concerns about the deal, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Washington.
Supporters of the bill, backed by the White House, are confident that the "compromise bill" will be acceptable to Delhi, he says.
NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA India has 14 reactors in commercial operation and nine under constructionNuclear power supplies about 3% of India's electricityBy 2050, nuclear power is expected to provide 25% of the country's electricityIndia has limited coal and uranium reservesIts huge thorium reserves - about 25% of the world's total - are expected to fuel its nuclear power programme long-termSource: Uranium Information Center Global nuclear powers
Earlier, senior US state department official Nicholas Burns - who is visiting India - said he anticipated "a very successful and supportive bill", well within the parameters of an agreement signed between India and the US.
US President George W Bush finalised the agreement during a landmark trip to India in March.
US Senate and House of Representatives committees backed the deal in June.
Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection.Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get access to US civil nuclear technology and fuel, in return for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection.
NUCLEAR POWER IN INDIA India has 14 reactors in commercial operation and nine under constructionNuclear power supplies about 3% of India's electricityBy 2050, nuclear power is expected to provide 25% of the country's electricityIndia has limited coal and uranium reservesIts huge thorium reserves - about 25% of the world's total - are expected to fuel its nuclear power programme long-termSource: Uranium Information Center Global nuclear powers
But its nuclear weapons sites will remain off-limits.But its nuclear weapons sites will remain off-limits.
Critics of the deal say it could boost India's nuclear arsenal and sends the wrong message to countries like Iran, whose nuclear ambitions Washington opposes. The Congress decision was welcomed in Delhi as an historic moment in relations between the two countries.
India has made clear that the final agreement must not bind it to supporting the US policy on Iran and does not prevent it from developing its own fissile material. Once on opposite sides of the Cold War fence, they have become allies with close economic, political and even defence ties.
Correspondents say that India sees the deal as a tacit acceptance of its emergence as a global nuclear power.
But some say that by making an exception for India, the US will find it difficult to rein in the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.
'Compromise bill'
Previously, the US had opposed Indian nuclear activities because it has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has twice tested nuclear weapons, in 1974 and 1998.
The final bill was said to have been altered to take into account some Indian concerns about the deal, says the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Washington.
Earlier, senior US state department official Nicholas Burns - who is visiting India - said he anticipated "a very successful and supportive bill", well within the parameters of the agreement signed between India and the US.
India has made clear that the final agreement must not bind it to supporting the US policy on Iran, and does not prevent it from developing its own fissile material.