Wednesday, September 27 2006 15:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Turning the tables on the Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate Harry Reid has said he offered a 'unanimous consent agreement' to move the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement and that the Republican leadership spurned it.

"Senate Democrats have been strong supporters of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation bill since the Administration announced this proposal in March and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved it in June.

Unfortunately, since this bill was favorably acted on by the Foreign Relations Committee, the Republican Leader chose to bring 16 different legislative matters to the Senate floor rather than this important legislation, which is critical to the U.S./India relationship" Senator Reid said in a statement yesterday.

Reid's comments follows the statement of Bill Frist that he had offered a 'unanimous consent agreement' that was rejected by the Democratic leadership in the Senate that insisted on more amendments including second degree amendments that could change the language of the first set of amendments prior to a vote on them.

"The facts are that Republican differences over the substance of this bill have delayed its consideration and some of those disagreements have still not been resolved, as I learned last evening in my discussions with Senator Frist.

"I would encourage people following this debate to review the complete transcript of our discussion of Monday evening", Reid maintained.

"I do believe it is important for the Senate to act on this matter without further delay. Its passage would mean so much to the vitally important U.S./India relationship. I pledge to do what I can to ensure that we do just that. I hope the Majority Leader will not pass up yet another opportunity to get this bill done" Reid said.

Earlier, talking to reporters after a closed door Democratic policy lunch, he rejected Bill Frist's contention that Democrats are holding up the civilian nuclear legislation.

He said that while the Democrats would like to deal with the Bill now it is the Grand Old Party that is hoping to get it done during the Lame Duck session following the November 7 elections.

Reid said he had told the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Democrats are ready to move forward on the legislation.

He argued that the Republicans have caused problems on the procedural front largely as a result of a provision put in by Senator Richard Lugar, the Indiana Republican who is the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Well first of all, let the record be clear right here: Democrats do not object to the Indian nuclear agreement, OK? This has been out and about. This piece of legislation was reported out of the committee in July. I support it personally," he said.

"There was a provision that has caused a lot of problems that was put in it in the committee, and the Republicans have objected. This was a provision put in by Senator Lugar" Reid said.

"The Republicans have painted themselves into a procedural corner that I think they're having trouble getting out of. I don't know where they would find the few hours to do this very important piece of legislation" Reid maintained.