MADRAS, India -- The U.S. Congress has finally given its approval to a landmark law that allows the export of U.S. civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time in more than 30 years.
The Senate passed the deal by voice vote; the House of Representatives did so by an overwhelming 330-59 vote last Friday. The legislation is aimed at implementing a July agreement between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President George W. Bush.
Although critics of the pact are unhappy that India has been given a virtually free rein on the nuclear issue, it is also a fact that the country has been freed from a bondage of sorts and can now hope to push ahead of Pakistan and establish strategic parity with China.