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US parliamentary delegation to visit India

A high-level delegation of US parliamentarians will visit India from February 15 to 20 for first-hand, direct discussions with Indian parliamentarians about the economic sanctions imposed by the US administration last May following India's nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan.

According to city MP Murli Deora, who is the co-chairman of Indo-US parliamentary working group, the Indian parliamentarians will discuss various issues pertaining to Indo-American relations with their American counterparts on February 17.

The u s delegation includes Congressman Gary Ackerman (chairman, India caucus), Congressman Jim McDermott (co-chairman, Indo-US parliamentary working group), Congressman Lloyd Alton Doggett and David Price.

Deora said that in spite of several rounds of discussions Jaswant Singh had with Undersecretary Strobe Talbott, the economic sanctions imposed by the US administration still continue.

It is high time that the US economic sanctions are lifted. Several projects are also held up for clearance from the World Bank. Those Indian companies that had access to American technology are now debarred from this technology after the sanctions, he said.

Deora has also applied to the prime minister that before commencing any new dialogue the government should see that the long-pending economic sanctions are lifted.

On the question of signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Deora said leaders of political parties and Indian parliamentarians should be taken into confidence before the government takes any decision.

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