US President George W Bush has made it clear that his nod to the Hyde Act on the nuclear deal does not mean automatic approvals of the Statement of Policy section which contains measures to choke fuel supply to India in case it does not meet conditions of waiver or limit it to “reasonable reactor requirements”. This section also has other riders like ensuring India’s continuing support on US policies towards the Iran nuclear issue.

“Section 103 of the Act purports to establish US policy with respect to various international affairs matters. My approval does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy as US foreign policy,” said Bush in his official statement on Henry Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006 which he signed into law on Monday.

Referring to US Constitution’s authority on the President to frame and conduct foreign policy, he was clear that his Administration will treat such policy statements as “advisory”.

It is this section to which there has been maximum domestic opposition from the Left, BJP and retired nuclear scientists. Bush’s stand, sources said, endorses the government’s position that nothing beyond the July 18 joint statement and the March 2 Separation Plan will be part of the final agreement between the two countries.

The other issue on which doubts have been raised on grounds of allowing intrusive access to Indian nuclear facilities was Section 109 of the Act. This calls for setting up of a Indo-US scientific cooperative nuclear non-proliferation programme. It was earlier called the Cooperative Threat Reduction Programme in the Senate Bill, but later re-named it after Indian concerns were pointed out by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during the reconciliation process.

... contd.