Krishna-Clinton meet: India to push Nuclear commerce

Even as the American nuclear suppliers have reservations about the Indian liability legislation, New Delhi will prod the US to start the nuclear commerce soon.

Even as the American nuclear suppliers have reservations about the Indian liability legislation, New Delhi will prod the US to start the nuclear commerce soon.

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This will figure when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna meets US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, government sources said.

The meeting is expected to be on September 25. The issues of H1B visa fee hike, ban on outsourcing by the Ohio state government, visit of US president Barack Obama to India in November is also likely come up during the discussions.

With the parliament passing the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010, Delhi is keen on beginning the nuclear commerce with US. But US nuclear firms have been unhappy with the stringent supplier liability clause in the Indian legislation.

However, government officials say that the once the legislation is enacted, everybody has to go by it. “Every country has domestic legislations. And those who do business there have to go by such laws. US, like any other country, has many legislations like the Hyde Act”, said an official.

US PUSH FOR PACTS

US is pushing for completing all outstanding military agreements with India, including a proposal to safeguard American defence technologies transferred to New Delhi.

Ahead of Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s visit to Washington next week, a US government official stressed on Tuesday that the proposals will guarantee the Indian military unprecedented access to cutting-edge technologies.

India has made clear that more negotiations are required to resolve areas of differences.