Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed happiness that the Indo US nuclear deal crossed another hurdle
ON BOARD PM's SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed happiness that the Indo US nuclear deal crossed another hurdle on Sunday following its approval by the US House of Representatives but said he would wait for the final outcome before the accord could be toasted.
With the US Senate yet to give its clearance to the 123 Agreement, Singh said the House approval was not the end of the legislative process.
"I am happy that one hurdle has been crossed but I think that is not the end of the legislative process. So we will wait for the final outcome," the Prime Minister said to reporters accompanying him on his trip to France at the end of his five day US visit.
The House approval on Saturday brought the historic accord one step closer to President George W Bush's signature.
Though the landmark 123 Agreement was cleared by the House, it must be adopted by the Senate which could be considering amendments.
Shortly after the news of the House approval broke in New York on Saturday while Singh was addressing the Indian community members at a reception there at the end of his US visit, the Prime Minister said the deal was in the interest of India, the US and the world at large.
National Security Advisor M K Narayanan welcomed the adoption of the deal by the House saying it was a matter of great satisfaction. He expressed the hope that the Bill would get cleared in the Senate sooner than later rather than wait for the next session.
Hailing the House action, Indian Ambassador to US Ronen Sen said it would now be the last lap of a historic step for both the countries.
A high level official in the PM's delegation indiated that the planned visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to India on October three may not take place for possible signing of the agreement.
"The US has requested a change of date since External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will not be in India on that date," he said.
Official sources had earlier said that the agreement would be initialled on October three by Rice and Mukherjee if it got final approval of the US Congress by then.
The official said India had some concern over part of the text of the agreement being considered in the Congress.
But, he said, India has been told by the US they would ensure this was duly addressed.
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