Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar on Friday expressed concern at the insertion of new clauses of an "intrusive" nature in the bill passed by the US Senate to implement the civil nuclear deal with India.
He hoped India's concerns about these clauses would be addressed when the US Congress holds a conference to reconcile the two bills on the nuclear deal passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
"We do not want to get into any activity that will be intrusive (for) our programme and that is why these concerns," Kakodkar told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on composites in Hyderabad.
He made a reference to Section 115 in the bill passed by the Senate, which proposes joint research by the US National Nuclear Security Administration and Indian agencies in the field of non-proliferation and nuclear safety.
"The US is talking about a programme to be piloted by the NNSA and they call it a scientific threat reduction programme, which has come as a surprise," Kakodkar said.
"Nuclear proliferation is not a problem as India is maintaining a clear record. The question is how intrusive it (the new clause) is," he said.
"India has been recognised as a country with advanced nuclear technology. Therefore, it has to carry on with its strategic programme. The deal is for civil applications and it should not intrude into strategic areas," he said.
Since the Senate passed the bill on November 16, Indian scientists have alleged the NNSA has links to the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency and any cooperation with it could facilitate the "back door" entry of covert US agencies into the country's nuclear programme.
Kakodkar described the new clauses in the bill passed by the US Senate as "a matter of additional concern" that "got introduced in the last discussion".
About the private sector being allowed to mine uranium, he said the Department of Atomic Eenergy is moving "step by step" on this matter.
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