By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : The United States says it would continue to work for Congressional approval of its civil nuclear deal with India without seeking a change in either the implementing 123 accord or the enabling US law.
Declining to comment on the continuing furore in Indian parliament over the deal, state department spokesman Gonzalo R. Gallegos said Tuesday that while New Delhi worked through issues before it internally, Washington would work with the US Congress. “And we’re committed to hopefully coming together and succeeding in this.”
Consultations with US Congress, however, did not imply that the Bush Administration is trying to change either the terms of the implementing 123 agreement finalised here last month or the provisions of the enabling Hyde Act passed by the US Congress last December.
“No, that was more of a general statement that we’re having conversations to express the position of the Administration and this Department on why (we) believe this is an important initiative and why (we) believe it should ultimately succeed,” Gallegos said.
“My understanding is that the Indian Government is working through the issues internally. Obviously, we would have no comment on that. That is an issue for them to decide. We’re working with our Congress here to move towards this agreement and we will continue that effort.
“We believe that this is an opportunity for India to have access to cheap low-cost electrical power and an opportunity for the people to have economic development beyond the capacities at this point. So we’re working our side of the issue here. The Indian Government is working their side. And we’re committed to hopefully coming together and succeeding in this,” he said.
Asked what choice would India have but to counter if neighbours like China and Pakistan continued nuclear tests, Gallegos said, “Well, I think you should probably ask the Indian Government leaders about that issue; Indian parliamentarians. I’ll leave them to comment on that”
In general Gallegos declined to go beyond the statement made by regular state department spokesman Sean McCormack on the issue. “Sean made a statement last week. I think that stands. I don’t feel a need or would I try to expand on that. I refer you back to the statement that he made.”
McCormack himself had tacitly conceded last week that as a sovereign nation India has the right to conduct or not conduct a test but said Washington does not encourage any states to test atomic weapons.
“The whole issue is India is sovereign, but we’re not encouraging any states to test at this point,” he said without asserting as he had in comments made to a couple of reporters that a test by New Delhi would lead to scrapping of the deal.
McCormack’s reported blunt assertion earlier that a test by India would lead to scrapping of the deal does not find a mention in the state department transcript for the day as it was made in comments after the regular briefing.