India has concerns with regard to certain aspects of the US law on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, including its impact on research and development, and would seek clarification on it from Washington, Department of Atomic Energy Secretary Anil Kakodkar said on Thursday.
"Certainly, there are concerns and that is for what we have to seek clarification," he told reporters in Chidambaram on the sidelines of the Indian Science Congress.
Asked whether there are concerns that the deal impinges on R&D, he said "correct. We've to negotiate that and make sure that it(the agreement) does not impinge on our R&D".
"We have to maintain the autonomy of our R&D. No question about it," Kakodkar said.
He asserted that the domestic nuclear programme was independent and will "carry on" in that form.
"All external things we are looking at is additional. An addition is always welcome as long as it does not impinge on our domestic programme," Kakodkar said.
The top nuclear scientist pointed out that the deal was not negotiated yet.