Arati R. Jerath

New Delhi: While the United Progressive Alliance mulls over the consequences of a showdown with the Left on the nuclear deal, the government’s interlocutors in Washington have already sounded out key Democrat leaders, including foreign policy advisers to Barack Obama, for help to rush the 123 Agreement through the US Congress before the Bush Administration bows out in January 2009.

A highly-placed official source said all those spoken to have responded favourably and assured India that the 123 Agreement will be put to vote in the December lame-duck session of the US Congress, if necessary. The passage of the agreement by the US Congress is the final stage for operationalisation of the nuclear deal.

The assurance from the Obama camp is critical, particularly if he is elected the next US President in November. Obama had moved a killer amendment to the Hyde Act two years ago and was a vocal opponent of the deal. It is an important breakthrough for India to have him on board.

Obama’s foreign policy aides are believed to have told Indian interlocutors he has tempered many of his views now that he is aspiring to become the next US President.

They said he understands the importance of the bilateral relationship with India and will work to strengthen it. He should not be judged by his actions as a Senator (when he moved the killer amendment), they are believed to have emphasised.

The official source said their interlocutors have been talking to key persons in the Obama camp for some months now and some of them will probably be invited to visit India in the coming weeks to acquaint them with the vast changes taking place in this region.

Apart from the Obama circle, Indian interlocutors have also been in regular touch with important Democrat leaders who play a key role in preparing the list of business for the US Congress.

The party holds a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The two Democrats who matter most are House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Joe Biden. Both have agreed to ensure that the 123 Agreement is put to vote and passed at the earliest.

In fact, according to a senior government official, India’s ambassador to the US Ronen Sen met Biden only last week and the Senator reaffirmed his commitment to getting the deal through during the life of the Bush Administration.

The bipartisan support for the deal in the US is proving to be a lifeline for the government in the tortuous path to operationalisation of an agreement that will end India’s nuclear winter. Official sources acknowledged, however, that there can be no let up in India’s lobbying efforts till the deal is finally through.

Other measures being planned are to galvanise the Indian American community and the US nuclear industry to work with Obama aides to ensure smooth passage of the 123 Agreement this year

Source : DNA