Burton supports Indo-US nuke deal

WASHINGTON: India's efforts to convince US Congress members about the merits of the Indo-US nuclear deal has got a shot in the arm with prominent India basher of the past Congressman Dan Burton joining hands with traditional supporters to back the agreement.

Burton along with Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans Gary Ackerman and former Co-Chairs Joe Crowley and Joe Wilson wrote a letter addressed to all members of the House of Representatives, countering the erroneous assertions made by detractors of the deal.

The four lawmakers countered the claim that the agreement poses potential negative impacts on non-proliferation by pointing out that under the accord India will place some 14 out of its 22 existing and planned facilities under IAEA safeguards; and that "once a reactor has been placed under safeguards, it will be that way permanently and without conditions".

The 'Dear Colleague' letter has also referred law makers to the latest State Department Report on Patterns of Global Terrorism which states that India has had an excellent record of protecting its nuclear assets and that the Indian Parliament had passed the Weapons of Mass Destruction Bill aimed at preventing the transfer of WMD, delivery systems and associated technologies to state and non state actors.