Even as the US-India civil nuclear deal takes on the proportions of a Hitchcockian thriller, it now has the backing of some of the most influential politicians at Capitol Hill.
WASHINGTON: Even as the US-India civil nuclear deal takes on the proportions of a Hitchcockian thriller, it now has the backing of some of the most influential politicians at Capitol Hill.
Just a few days after Henry Hyde, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee switched over to the side of the deal along with Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader John Boehner, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Richard Lugar, spoke out openly in favour of the deal on Friday saying, “It is the most important strategic diplomatic initiative undertaken by the Bush administration.”
With Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton now appointed co-chair of the US Senate India Caucus along with Republican John Cornyn, the passage of the deal into law seems to be getting closer to reality.
Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee Tom Lantos has also openly supported the deal, apart from Indophiles Joe Crowley and Joe Wilson, former co-chairmen of the House India Caucus.
Lugar, counted as one of the most outspoken politicians on nuclear proliferation, has been a Republican senator from Indiana for 29 years. In April this year, he was chosen by Time magazine as one of America’s 10 best senators.
Sanjay Puri, chairman of the US-India Political Action Committee said, “Since Chairman Lugar is rightfully regarded as the leading expert on non-proliferation, his views and conclusions will be closely analysed by Congress.”
Other India experts here in the capital say this is surely the most important step forward for the deal to go through.
“The support of these two top US Congress leaders (Hyde and Lugar) is more important than that of President Bush himself. If not for them, India would have kissed the deal goodbye,” sources close to Capitol Hill told DNA on Friday.
Lugar said in his speech, “Both Houses of Congress are working through language that would guide our policy toward India. I believe that we can help solidify New Delhi’s commitments to implement strong export controls, separate its civilian nuclear infrastructure from its weapons program, and place civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}