Washington on Tuesday said the deal should not be viewed as a "threat in any way to New Delhi's sovereignty or its nuclear programme."
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the talks on an agreement to operationalise the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Washington on Tuesday said the deal should not be viewed as a "threat in any way to New Delhi's sovereignty or its nuclear programme."
Seeking to allay any apprehensions by India that the deal may be inimical to its interests, the visiting US Energy Secretary Samuel W Bodman said the deal is good for India and should be seen as a "major opportunity".
"The civil nuclear agreement currently under negotiation is good for India... is good for the US... is good for our mutual energy security... and is good for global non-proliferation system," Bodman said at a FICCI interaction.
Bodman made a strong case for pushing forward the deal to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase use of alternative sources to achieve energy security.
Indian and American experts are due to hold discussions here later this week on the 123 agreement that will operationalise the nuke deal.
Bodman also said India, US and other international partners will soon begin construction on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) that would validate fusion process' potential to generate power and unlock a clean and virtually limitless source of energy.
Referring to the issue of energy security, Bodman underlined the need for taking collective steps to protect and modernise critical energy infrastructure, safeguard sea lanes and facilitate multiple delivery routes.
This, he said, was necessary to address any severe disruption in supplies of fossil fuels.
On India's decision to develop its strategic crude oil reserves, Bodman said: "We will continue to work together to coordinate our response in the event of global crisis.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}