India still seeks support for U.S. nuclear deal

Enlarge Photo Indian and U.S. national flags flutter in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi...

Mon, Mar 3 01:16 PM

India said on Monday it was still looking for political support at home for a controversial nuclear deal with the United States, even as Washington says time is running out.

The communists have threatened to pull down the government if the ruling Congress party tries to push through the deal, which would allow India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and technology.

Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament his government was still pursuing international approval for the deal, but gave no indication the government would push it through at the cost of angering its leftist allies.

"We will continue to seek broad political consensus within the country to take forward our engagement," he said.

After delivering a voter-friendly budget on Friday, there has been talk the government was preparing to push the deal through, even if that meant early elections.

The communists say the deal undermines India's sovereignty, but have allowed the government to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

To go into effect India has to clinch an agreement with the IAEA, then get the endorsement of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group that governs global nuclear trade.

Then, it has to secure a final approval from the U.S. Congress, where it enjoys bipartisan support but where its passage could be complicated by the short legislative calendar ahead of the Nov. 4 U.S. election.

Indian media reported last week the government was close to concluding a deal with the IAEA, but Mukherjee gave no indication of that on Monday.

Richard Boucher, the U.S. assistant secretary of state, will be in New Delhi on Tuesday and is expected to hold talks on the deal.

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