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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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India's upper house approves nuclear bill NEW DELHI, Saturday (AFP) India's upper house of parliament Friday passed legislation banning the proliferation of nuclear technology, seven years after the South Asian giant shocked the world with a series of nuclear tests. Foreign Minister Natwar Singh assured lawmakers that the proposed legislation "would not hinder" India's development of its defence capabilities and atomic power industry. "India is committed to safeguarding its security as a nuclear weapon state and to deepen its autonomous scientific and technical capability for meeting our security imperatives as well as our developmental goals," Singh said before lawmakers passed the bill. "The bill does not seek to check development of missile technology but prevent leakage of this technology. As a responsible nation, India has never passed on its proven technological capabilities to any one," he added. The bill was passed by the lower house of parliament on Thursday and will become law as soon as it is signed by Indian President Abdul Kalam. The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Bill, outlaws the transfer of biological and chemical weapons and their delivery systems. It lays down that a person caught engaging in nuclear commerce or passing on atomic technology could face five years to a life in prison as well as a fine. The legislation covers Indians in India and abroad and foreigners residing in India. India has refused to sign two hallmark agreements on proliferation, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying they are discriminatory because they allow the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to keep their nuclear weapons. After the May 1998 nuclear tests, which were followed by nuclear tests by rival Pakistan the same month, India announced a moratorium on future testing and called for a time-frame for global disarmament. India has been wanting to develop its civilian nuclear industry with Russian and US help. In April, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered New Delhi greater access to high technology sales, including civilian nuclear power plants and fuel to meet its growing energy needs. India is currently barred from buying such equipment because it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty that forbids such sales to countries that do not agree to international inspection of nuclear plants and facilities. Nuclear energy meets three percent of India's total power requirement but New Delhi has set itself the target of increasing nuclear energy consumption to 25 percent by 2050. |
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