WASHINGTON, July 1: Three Indian firms have taken a bum rap for nuclear proliferation after the Clinton administration moved over the weekend to stem criticism that it was too lax in selling advanced dual technology items to other countries.

Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and the Indian Rare Earths Ltd are among 13 companies in India,China, Russia, Israel and Pakistan that have been placed on a Commerce Department watchlist requiring them to get special approval to buy American technology.

A notification to this effect was made in the Federal Register on Monday after a huge flap last months over the sale of advanced supercomputers with potential military applications to Russia and China.

None of the Indian companies has bought or placed any orders for supercomputers or advanced dual use items from the US, causing Indian officials to be mystified by the action. They surmise the move is part of the overall crackdown that the administration is undertaking after coming under fire last month for being too loose in monitoring proliferation.

The only supercomputer sale to India was made in 1988 when Cray sold two XMP machines to the Indian Meteorolgical Department and the Indian Institute of Science, mainly for weather forecasting. In fact, New Delhi chose to forgo the option to buy two more machines after American conditionalities ran to painful extent and its inspection and verification regimes proved too instrusive.

Sources said the Indian firms were put on the watchlist under what is called the Enhanced Proliferation Initiative, under a ``catch-all clause'' which purport is to keep technology out of the hands of even potential proliferators.Some of 130 Indian entitites are on a commerce department data base list.``Denial of technology is not a new phenomenon. We have been targetted earlier too, and have met the challenge by finding a way out ourselves, by resorting to self-reliance,'' Arunachalam toldThe Indian Express.

According to analysts here, it is increasingly becoming evident that ``good guys get no rewards.'' The best example of this principle at work is that of China.

Disregarding American displeasure, the Chinese just go ahead and export nuclear and missile technologies. They are instead rewarded when persuaded by Washington to stop their exports.India has exercised exemplary restraint on its exports of sensitive technology, even when there have been enough interested countries ready to pay for Indian expertise.

But India's self-imposed restraint has not found appreciation in the United States. ``If Washington does not show any appreciation or does not even acknowledge India's maturity, then perhaps New Delhi could consider exports of sensitive technology,'' according to one analyst.

This view is shared by government officials as well, who while loath to be quoted directly, privately agree that since India's consistent restraint on exports of sensitive technology has not elicited any particular dividends, a rethink on this policy could be in order.

While security analysts push for engaging the Americans in constructive dialogue at all levels, the scientific community is determined not be distracted by such ``minor eruptions'' and to press ahead with India's nuclear and missile programmes on its own steam.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.