Rice in India, deal may off today

After finally getting US Congressional nod to Indo-US nuclear deal, US Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice is in New Delhi to ink the deal but there is some doubt whether India and US would be able to sign the deal during Rice’s two-day tour here as certain procedures are still being worked out.

The deal is ready to be signed between Condoleezza Rice and External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee but there is doubt about it to be signed today as US President George Bush is yet to sign the legislation passed by the Congress.

The Indian side want Bush to sign the nuclear bill into law first as it is inclined to seek some clarifications on certain aspects, particularly fuel assurance supply, that have created apprehensions.

Sources say India wants President Bush to waive off fuel supply restrictions in case India goes for test, in his signing statement.

But the US has rejected the demand, saying it is unnecessary and that Bush may not even issue a signing statement.

So far nothing has been said officially if the two sides will be signing the Indo-US civil nuclear deal in the next two days. However before leaving Washington on Friday evening, Rice said the details are still being worked out. She said the whole purpose of her trip is to move forward and not to look at where we are.

'This was only passed in our Congress two days ago. The President is looking forward to signing the bill. Very soon I hope the doubt will aside because we'll want to use it as an opportunity to thank all of the people who have been involved in this,” said Rice.

Mukherjee and Rice are scheduled to meet in the Saturday afternoon where the two leaders are expected to discuss various issues including the civil nuclear initiatives during their delegation level talks.

India wants to be assured of uninterrupted fuel supply if it conducts test and scrapping of clauses preventing Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) members from providing India enrichment and reprocessing technology. There is also a clause, binding New Delhi from stockpiling nuclear fuel for fear of diversion to its weapons programme, which India wants to be cut off.

However, both New Delhi and Washington turn down the entire criticism of the bilateral civil nuclear deal saying it is only the 123 agreement that binds them.

Echoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: “India has the right to test, others to react.”

Whatever Mukherjee now be saying, New Delhi must be sure about the aftermath of nuclear test, if it conducts. What kind of sanctions it might face? Will its fuel supply be interrupted?