New controversy in India over US nuclear deal

Posted 09 5 2008 1:10AM

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) - India's government was Wednesday hit by a fresh storm over its nuclear energy deal with the United States following reports of new US stipulations.

The agreement, which is entering the final stages of approval, offers India access to Western technology and cheap atomic energy on the condition that it allows UN nuclear inspections of some of its nuclear facilities.

But Indian media reported that a 26-page US State Department letter states that Washington also reserves the right to cut off nuclear fuel supplies to India if it carries out new nuclear weapons tests.

Foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna played down the revelation, saying India was anyway sticking with a self-imposed nuclear test ban.

"We have a unilateral moratorium and this is reflected in the Indo-US joint statement of July 18, 2005," he said.

Washington's ambassador to New Delhi also tried to downplay the row, which has erupted on the eve of a meeting of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which must give its unanimous thumbs up for the landmark deal to be implemented.

"This letter contains no new conditions and there is no data in this letter which has not already been shared in an open and transparent way with members of the Congress and with the Indian government," David Mulford said.

Still, the reports triggered a storm among Indian critics of the deal, who have long argued that the pact would cripple the country's strategic programme.

"It's a complete sell-out by the Congress party government," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesman for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).