Washington: A prominent member of the Indian-American Community has expressed encouragement over the political developments in New Delhi on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and hoped the Left parties will continue to support the government on the issue.

"We are encouraged with the developments in India and hope that the parties on the Left will continue to support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue," said Ashok Mago, Chairman of the Dallas-based US-India Forum.

The Left parties in India this week gave clearance to the Government to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for working out an India-specific safeguards agreement.

"Dr Singh is a person without a personal agenda and he will never agree to anything, which is detrimental to India's national security interests and particularly its sovereignty," Mago said.

"Yes, I do," Mago said when asked if he believed that the nuclear deal could get through this Congress which could take up the issue once after India is done with the IAEA and the consensus obtained in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

"The Hyde Act was passed with strong bi-partisan backing with both the Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supporting it. I believe they will include this particular legislative vote in their busy agenda.

But it would have to be done by the middle of next year. If we wait for the last days of this Congress it will become difficult," Mago added.

Source : PTI