US Senate likely to take up N-deal today

The India-US N-deal appeared poised to clear its last legislative hurdle as the Senate began a debate on it after overcoming objections from a few lawmakers, reports V Krishna. Map locating India's nuclear facilities.

The India-US civilian nuclear agreement is poised to clear its final hurdle with a vote set in the US Senate for Wednesday evening (Thursday morning Indian time).

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At least one senator had used a procedural manoeuvre to block a quick vote. But on Tuesday evening, under pressure from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others, opponents of the deal relented.

The Senate will convene at 10am on Wednesday (7.30 pm IST) and begin consideration of the measure approved by the House of Representatives: House Resolution 7081, on the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act. Two amendments — proposed by Democrats Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico — will also be discussed.

A draft of Dorgan’s amendment says: “The US may not export, transfer or re-transfer any nuclear technology, material, equipment or facility under the agreement if the Government of India detonates a nuclear explosive device after the date of the enactment of this acts,” PTI reports.

Under Bingaman's proposal, if India detonates a nuclear weapon after the measure is enacted, the President will have to certify to Congress that no American technology, material, equipment or facility supplied to India under the agreement assisted the test.