Senate okays N-Deal with a Test Rider

The Senate foreign relations committee approved the Indo-US nuclear agreement by a thumping 19-2 margin. However, it also introduced a strong rider in the form of an enabling legislation saying all transfer of nuclear technology, materials and equipment to India would stop in case it carried out a nuclear test. Not just this, the bill says the US will persuade all the NSG members to stop these supplies to India in the event of a test. It also asserts that the deal will be subject to the provisions of the Hyde Act, Atomic Act and other US laws. The resolution is bound to sour the mood of the visiting Indian delegation led by PM Manmohan Singh. This, despite the fact that none of the conditions will really hit the deal per se because the bill does not affect the 123 Agreement nor does it open it up. Even so, the Centre had sought “clean’’ passage of the N-deal without a rider.India will also be unhappy with the harsh language of the bill, which says, “It is the policy of the US to seek to prevent the transfer of nuclear equipment, materials or technology from other participating governments of the NSG or from any other source.’’