A senior U. S. official has assured India that the final legislation on the India-US nuclear energy pact would not change the draft already agreed to by the two countries.
The assurance was given by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher who arrived in Calcutta from Dhaka Friday for a four-day visit to India. He told a gathering of businessmen he is confident that the draft approved by the U. S. Senate will be on the lines of what President Bush agreed upon when he visited India in March. The pact has already been approved by the House of Representatives.
Some lawmakers in New Delhi have expressed concerned that the Senate might impose some new restrictions on India's nuclear program. The pact will allow the United States and other nuclear suppliers to sell nuclear fuel and technology to India if New Delhi opens its civilian nuclear sites for UN inspections.