NEW DELHI: Amid concerns here over the Hyde Act, the US has suggested that the "domestic" legislation would have to be taken into account in operation of the civil nuclear cooperation with India. "The Hyde Act is a domestic legislation (and) the 123 agreement is an international agreement. I think we can move forward with both in a consistent manner," Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters here.
Boucher, who discussed the nuclear deal issue with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, made the comment when asked by reporters whether the Hyde Act would have any bearing on the Indo-US nuclear cooperation. The comment came amid concerns voiced by the Left parties and BJP over the Hyde Act despite the government's insistence that it will have no bearing on the nuclear deal with the US.
The concerns were heightened after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last month that changes in the NSG guidelines, required by India for nuclear commerce with international community, will have to be "completely consistent with the obligations of the Hyde Act". She had said that Washington would not support India's case if it was contrary to the Hyde Act.
The government here has maintained, however, that India would not be bound by the Hyde Act, which contains some "prescriptive and extraneous elements". Boucher, who also held talks with his counterpart Gaytri Kumar, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the two sides discussed ways in which they could move forward on building the "very important" relationship
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