Last phase of Indo-US Nuclear Deal Crucial

Despite shortage of Time, the US administration, business and Indian-American activists are found to be busy in pushing Congress for approval of the civil nuclear deal with India as quickly as possible but definitely before 26 September. This is the phase that US is to cross over and its important for the country’s prestige as well as business point of view, death and life question.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group has already given its okay to India giving its go-ahead signal for resumption of nuclear cooperation with India. Now the next stage is the 123 agreement, which shall now be placed before the US Congress on Monday.

There is no doubt that the deal enjoys broad support, but the time factor has to play a big part, 30 days are required to consider the deal, whereas the there are a few days short of the permissible time limit, hence there does arise a problem of time to a certain extent.

The session ends on September 26, whereas rules require 30 days for consideration of the measure, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is not worried, she is confident of her spade work. She gave her mind to the reporters in Algiers on Saturday.

“We understand that the time is very short.” “I have already talked before this NSG (meeting), several weeks before, to relevant committee chairs about trying to get it done, and I will have those conversations again, most likely on Monday or Tuesday.”
It is important for President George W Bush, who would naturally see that the business goes through smoothly. Rice feels that the agreement is a part of President Bush’s legacy, which he can’t take lightly.

“We are ready,” said Swadesh Chatterjee, chairman of the US-India Friendship Council, and hope to get the deal ratified within time. The group plans to meet a large number of Congressional leaders to apprise them of the urgency.
The only way to go smooth is first to get the exemption of 30 days rule, which I feel shall be granted without much hitch even though, there is some apprehension from Howard L Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who does’t seem to be supportive.

Howard L Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has created some doubt gave his mind to The New York Times on Saturday that he might not consider any expedited timetable until the Bush administration satisfies him with proper information about Vienna’s proceeding with grounds justifying the exemption of time limit. However, that is only a formality and it may not stand in the way of ignoring the time factor of 30 days.

Since the denial at this stage shall damage certain US companies who wish to deal with India and if the time limit is overruled, Russia and France may click the deal from India and this aspect the Americans can’t afford to ignore, hence the time limit shall stand no bar, and so Howard L Berman shall not stand in the way of exemption of time.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain, however, said on Saturday that Congressional leaders should act expeditiously to pass the agreement. Democratic nominee Barack Obama also has also said he supports the agreement.