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US panel backs India nuclear deal | US panel backs India nuclear deal |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate has voted in favour of the India-US civil nuclear deal. | The Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate has voted in favour of the India-US civil nuclear deal. |
Indian officials say it is an important development for the agreement, which must now be passed by the full Senate and the House of Representatives. | Indian officials say it is an important development for the agreement, which must now be passed by the full Senate and the House of Representatives. |
The deal will then have to be signed by the US president before it becomes law. | The deal will then have to be signed by the US president before it becomes law. |
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in the US to attend the UN General Assembly. He is due to meet President George Bush on Thursday. | India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in the US to attend the UN General Assembly. He is due to meet President George Bush on Thursday. |
Officials hope the US Congress will approve the deal before the meeting. | Officials hope the US Congress will approve the deal before the meeting. |
Earlier this month, the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a ban that had stopped India from getting access to the global nuclear market. | Earlier this month, the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a ban that had stopped India from getting access to the global nuclear market. |
'Significant' | 'Significant' |
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 19-2 to approve the deal on Tuesday. | The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 19-2 to approve the deal on Tuesday. |
"Enactment of this bill will help the US-India relationship grow," news agency Associated Press quoted Senator Joseph Biden as saying. | |
PM Manmohan Singh has described the nuclear deal as "momentous" | PM Manmohan Singh has described the nuclear deal as "momentous" |
The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee - and Democratic candidate for vice-president - added: "Today's committee passage is significant, but several steps remain before this bill becomes law. | |
"I hope the Congress can complete the job in the few days remaining before adjournment, and I'll continue fighting as hard as I can to achieve this important victory." | |
Meanwhile, Mr Singh, who arrived in New York on Tuesday, said he was hopeful that the deal would be approved quickly. | Meanwhile, Mr Singh, who arrived in New York on Tuesday, said he was hopeful that the deal would be approved quickly. |
India says the deal with the US is vital for it to meet its civil energy demands. | India says the deal with the US is vital for it to meet its civil energy demands. |
But critics say it creates a dangerous precedent - effectively allowing India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must. | But critics say it creates a dangerous precedent - effectively allowing India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must. |
Centrepiece | Centrepiece |
They say the deal would undermine the arguments for isolating Iran over its nuclear programme and be a disaster for international non-proliferation efforts. | They say the deal would undermine the arguments for isolating Iran over its nuclear programme and be a disaster for international non-proliferation efforts. |
The agreement is the centrepiece of US efforts to bolster ties with India. | The agreement is the centrepiece of US efforts to bolster ties with India. |
Earlier in September, the deal crossed a crucial hurdle when the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group approved it. | |
Mr Singh said the decision marked "the end of India's decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime". | Mr Singh said the decision marked "the end of India's decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime". |
The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. | The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. |
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