Watson said her main fear was that this legislation would damage the NPT to the point that we would make it harder to stop the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes.

Same was the case with Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Expressing concerns that the deal to share civilian nuke technology with India would undermine international non-proliferation efforts, Barbara Lee even moved an amendment, which required India to join the NPT as a precondition to receiving nuclear assistance from the US. It was defeated 36-4 with two Republicans, Chris Smith of New Jersey and Jim Leach of Iowa voting for the amendment.

Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey is said to be a known face against India, who always brings in the issue of Dalits and human rights violations in India.

Though a proponent of strong relationship with India, Leach voted against the bill as he felt that it would harm NPT. Leach has been elected to House since 1976. Also the chairman of the Sub Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs and a member of the Committee on Financial Services, Leach had said at a House hearing in September last: ‘‘I don’t know any member of the Congress that doesn’t want to have a warming of relations with the Government of India.... I also don’t know many members of Congress who are pushing for the precise commitment that the administration has made.’’ Considered to be a moderate Republican, who has differed with President George Bush on Iraq, Leach instead had suggested that US support India for a permanent seat on the Security Council.

... contd.