IndiaPost.com - Time is running out for N-deal: US

WASHINGTON: Voicing concern over the political uncertainty plaguing the Indo-US nuclear deal, the US has said every passing day was making it "harder" for the Bush administration to get Congressional approval for the landmark agreement.

"Every day that goes by is one less day on the legislative calendar for us to be able to have congressional action take place. So it certainly gets harder every day that this is delayed," State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said. Casey said the deal was in the best interests of India, US and the international community.

"We believe and we continue to believe that this arrangement is in the best interests of India, the United States, and the broader international community, because it will strengthen non-proliferation regimes.

"You know the Indian government has internal political issues that it needs to work through. And, certainly, we continue to support this and we believe it's in our interest, but it certainly becomes harder to do so as the realities of the US legislative calendar move forward," he told reporters here. "We'd like to believe that this deal and this agreement is one that can and should be supported by whoever comes into office in January of 2009.

But, obviously, the next US government will have to look at this and make their own decisions on it," Casey said. The Left parties are strongly opposing the deal and have threatened to withdraw their support to the Congress-led UPA government if it went to IAEA Board of Governors for finalisation of India specific safeguards agreement.