The bill is facing some political opposition in India due to concerns over the overall cap on compensation to Rs500 crore and the allocation of much of the burden of nuclear liability to the Indian taxpayer.
Ahead of the US-India strategic dialogue, the Obama Administration says it is not "frustrated" over the delay in the passage of the nuclear liability bill in Indian Parliament but hoped it will be consistent with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation.
"We are not frustrated. We trust prime minister (Manmohan) Singh's judgment on this (nuclear liability bill)," US assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake told reporters to a question on the legislation.
The passage of the civil nuclear liability legislation is crucial for the full implementation of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.
The Bill, facing some political opposition in India due to concerns over the overall cap on compensation toRs500 crore and the allocation of much of the burden of nuclear liability to the Indian taxpayer, has been referred to the Standing Committee on Parliament.
"We are now following very closely the nuclear liability legislation that the Indian Government has introduced into the
Indian Parliament. And if passed, it would provide a very important legal protection and open the way for billions of
dollars in American reactor exports and thousands of jobs," he said. The Strategic Dialogue is due to start here on June
three.
"Our main interest is in making sure that the legislation that is passed is compliant with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation, which is the international standard for such legislation. We hope that will be consistent with the Convention," he added.
Blake also asserted he does not think that the passage of the landmark civilian nuclear deal is taking long.
"India is a democracy and, like our own democracy, they have to work a bill through -- first through their own Cabinet system and then they have get a consensus within their own Parliamentary system on this very, very important bill," he said.
"It has some political resonance in India because of the Bhopal disaster. So people obviously look at this very closely and they should. It deserves that kind of scrutiny," Blake said, coming out in strong defence of the political process in India related to the bill.
Blake also said, "I think the Prime Minister addressed this very forthrightly himself in his recent press conference in which he said that the passage of this legislation is a priority for the Indian Government.
And it's a priority because it's going to help the United States and other countries to deliver nuclear technology that will help meet the needs, the energy needs, of India's fast-growing economy," he said.
"It will also help us because we'll be able to substantially increase our exports, but also provide much needed new jobs in the United States," he said, adding that he sees this as a win-win for both the countries.
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