France and India Together in Nuclear Agreement

The two countries have signed nine agreements through their representatives, French President Jacques Chirac and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to continue nuclear operations "for peaceful purposes", among which a declaration on nuclear energy and a pact on defense.

Alongside the visit of France's president, Sikh school children held a protest against the banning of the Sikh turbans and Muslim headscarves. Singh, a senior member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and head of the Shiromani Akali Dal, said "This march does not just challenge a law but the Western way of thinking".

The protestors also submitted a memorandum to the French Embassy and one to the French president, in which they demanded that the ban be revoked. Singh, with Chirac at his side, stated in a conference: "We appreciate France's support for the ongoing effort to enable full civilian nuclear energy co-operation between India and the international community."

A similar deal is negotiated by India with the U.S.A, but it is having difficulties at separating the civilian from the nuclear facilities; these differences have to be sorted out until Bush's visit to India next month. The agreements are also a hope for France to sell about 126 warplanes to India; also, the two countries signed a deal of $2,5 billion for 43 Airbus commercial aircrafts. The Confederation of Indian Industry limited the trade to $2,99, but the parties involved hope to extend it even further.