Top scientist supports nuke deal, says it will benefit India

New York, July 23 (PTI) As the fate of the U.P.A.

government over the nuclear deal hangs in balance, a top Indian nuclear scientist Monday came out in strong support of the pact, saying it was "critical" for the country's energysecurity and economic prosperity.

Rejecting criticism of the deal by nonproliferationadvocates, former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission M.R.

Srinivasan said the deal will not pose any non-proliferationdanger.

"India's economy has been growing at 8-9 per cent in the past decade and will continue to do so in the future. It needs adequate quantities of energy to propel the economy. The high cost of oil and concern about carbon emissions from coal burning are pushing India to pursue the nuclear energy optionvigorously," he said.

Srinivasan, who is now a member of the A.E.C., said the nuclear technologies will result in a fuller use of available nuclear resources and contribute to sustainable energy bothfor India and the wider world.

Criticising those who opposed the deal on the ground that it could result in proliferation of nuclear technology , Srinivasan although India has not joined the Nonproliferation Treaty (N.P.T.), the country's commitment to nonproliferationcan hardly be in doubt.

"The proposed U.S.-India nuclear deal has become aflashpoint of anxiety over proliferation. It needn't be.

Criticism of the deal stems from an unwillingness to acknowledge that India poses no proliferation danger," hewrote in an article in the Wall Street Journal.

India is committed to the "peaceful use of nuclear energy, both in India and in the rest of the world, to meet the growing global energy demands. The U.S.-India nuclear deal is a critical step in this process", he said. PTI