US seeks amendments to nuke deal

WASHINGTON: Supporting the early passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal in the Congress, the Bush Administration has said New Delhi must be prepared to accept "amendments" to the agreement which are within the "spirit" of the July 2005 accord signed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush.

This was conveyed to a delegation of visiting Indian Parliamentarians by US Secretary of State Condoleezze Rice during a 30-minute meeting at the state department here.

"She did not say basic (changes to the framework) but that India should be prepared, should be ready for some amendments which will be within the framework...but it depends how Congress interprets," Rajya Sabha MP Shahid Siddique, who was a part of the delegation, said.

"Our main concern was the amendments we are expecting and we are concerned about the amendments. She said...if the amendments are within the spirit of the July 18 agreement then we should be prepared for it. The message was that there are going to be amendments and we should be ready for it...."

The Member of Parliament said it was generally recognised that time was of essence and that the civilian nuclear energy agreement should be formalised at the earliest.

"She said what is important now is the sequence, that how fast you are able to engage IAEA... because if that is not clear then the Congress will ask what are we getting in to. That is the message from her," he added.