India opposes change in nuke deal

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday made it clear that it will accept no "amendments" to the civil nuclear agreement signed with the US rejecting reported suggestions in this regard by Washington.

"I have seen the press reports (in which US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was quoted as saying India should be ready for some amendments in the agreement). The Government of India's position remains that our commitments are to those that are outlined in the joint statement of July 18, 2005," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

He was responding to a question about Rice telling an Indian Parliamentary delegation in Washington that India must be prepared to accept "amendments" to the agreement signed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush on March 2.

"She (Rice) 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, a member of the delegation, quoted Rice as saying.

"...the message was that there are going to be amendments and we should be ready for it...," Siddiqui said on Wednesday.

Currently being debated in the US Congress, the agreement after approval by the American Parliament will end a 32-year-old ban on trade with India in nuclear technology and fuel.