US-India nuke deal sent to Congress for final approval

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US President George W Bush has sent a landmark civilian nuclear deal with India to the Congress for final approval, the White House has said.
The controversial deal needs to be ratified by the US Congress before it can be implemented, BBC reports.
A group of nations regulating global nuclear trade has already approved a US proposal to lift restrictions on selling nuclear technology to India.
India says the deal is vital for it to meet its civil energy demands.
Critics of the deal say it creates a dangerous precedent - effectively allowing India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must.
They say the deal would undermine the arguments for isolating Iran over its nuclear programme and be a disaster for international non-proliferation efforts.
The agreement is the centrepiece of US efforts to bolster ties with India.
However, the Bush administration must attempt to rush it through Congress before legislators break to prepare for November's elections - held at the same time as the presidential vote.
The White House said in a statement that it was sending the text of the agreement to the lawmakers, who have returned to work on Monday.
"The proposed agreement provides a comprehensive framework for US peaceful nuclear cooperation with India," the statement said.
"It permits the transfer of information, non-nuclear material, nuclear material, equipment (including reactors) and components for nuclear research and nuclear power production. It does not permit transfers of any restricted data."