THERE IS STILL HOPE ON NUCLEAR DEAL: MANMOHAN SINGH
New Delhi, October 23, 2007 (IANS)

Amid continuing standoff with his Left allies on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday told a group of Indian American lobbyists that there is still hope for the matter to be resolved. The eight-member delegation, led by chairman of US India Political Action committee (Usinpac) Sanjay Puri, is currently in India to meet top leaders and officials to get an idea about the status of the civilian nuclear agreement, for which they had intensely lobbied last year in the US Congress.

A member of the delegation, Usinpac director Robinder Sachdeva told IANS that the prime minister was hopeful on being able to go forward on the nuclear deal. "He said that there was time between now and Nov 16, when the Left-UPA panel would be meeting again, to hopefully find a way forward," said Sachdeva.

Indian Americans pointed out that there was concern among US congressmen about the conflicting signals coming from New Delhi on the nuclear deal. "We pointed out that since the Hyde Act was passed, there are 54 new Congress members following the elections in November 2006. They do not have the background on the passage of the nuclear deal, so there is some sense of concern," said Sachdeva.

The Hyde Act refers to the enabling legislation passed by both the US House of Representatives and Senate last year to modify American domestic legislation to allow nuclear commerce with India, a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Manmohan Singh has been under pressure from his communist allies to scrap the nuclear deal, as they feel that India is aligning itself too closely to American foreign policy.

"There is a feeling on the US side that America has gone the extra mile to get the deal through," added Sachdeva. The Indian American delegation plans to meet politicians of different hues, from Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Rajnath Singh and Arun Shourie to Left politicians like D. Raja of Communist party of India. "We want to understand what they are trying to say and to convey to Indian Americans and US Congressmen, who were a bit demoralised, that there is still hope for the deal," he said.

BJP WILL NOT STALL WINTER SESSION OVER NUCLEAR DEAL
New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not likely to stall parliament over the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in the winter session of parliament beginning in the second week of November. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad gave a clear indication Friday of a change of tone and tenor in the party. Asked whether the BJP would allow a debate to be held this time, Prasad said, "We are all for a debate."

Meanwhile, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani met U. S. Amassador David C. Mulford Wednesday. Advani was not available for any comment on the meeting. During the budget session, the BJP had not allowed a discussion on the nuclear deal by insisting on a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on it and voting on the deal as a condition for allowing a debate to be held.

Avoiding a direct reply on a possible change of strategy, Prasad said: "Our strategy for a debate will be decided by the parliamentary party." Asked if the BJP would insist on a debate under Rule 184 of the Lok Sabha that involves voting, Prasad said: "We have several alternatives, we will see later."

He also clarified, "Our issue is different from the Left. We are for close friendship with the US. The Left has an ideological difference with the US. The BJP wants good friendly relations with the US. We oppose the deal because it compromises our strategic autonomy and our nuclear sovereignty."

But former union minister Arun Shourie, who piloted the BJP's views and objections to the nuclear deal, did not seem impressed by the Mulford-Advani meeting and was not inclined to change his views on the issue. He told IANS: "As far as I know, the party has taken a stand studying the deal for over two years in the strategic interests of the country."