India won't move forward on N-deal till consensus

India on Tuesday said it will not move forward on the civil nuclear deal with the US till a political consensus is achieved and that the government was making efforts to evolve a "meeeting ground" with outside supporters the Left parties.

"If we are able to evolve a consensus then it will be possible to hasten the process (of taking the deal forward)," visiting External Affairs Minister Mukherjee told reporters, as the US nudged India into concluding the agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and seek Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver by May to give Congress time to have a final vote on the deal.

The Left is opposed to the deal.

Mukherjee, who met President George W Bush at the White House for 35 minutes and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on Monday, said the United Progressive Alliance government is "interested" in pursuing the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and that it was aware of the timeframe suggested by members of the US Congress but certain issues were yet to be resolved.

Conveying to Mukherjee Washington's desire to take the deal forward, Rice had said it is a "landmark agreement which is good for both sides. We will continue to work on that agreement."

"Let us see. Events have their own momentum," said Mukherjee when asked by when he expected the political process in India to be hastened.

"The UPA government is trying to work out a meeting ground between it and a section of its supporters (to evolve a consensus)," said Mukherjee who is on his maiden bilateral visit to the US.

Mukherjee said, "There is opposition from the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party to the nuclear deal and therefore we have to take into account that... if it is subsequently not honoured by the next government, it would lead to en embarassing situation for the country."

Mukherjee said although India has finalised the language of the safeguards text with the IAEA, it was difficult to indicate at this juncture a time-frame by when the nuke deal could be wrapped up.

To a question whether the Congress-led coalition will sacrifice the government for the deal, Mukehrjee said, "It is not a question of sacrificing the deal or the government."

The Left parties have threatened withdrawal of support to the UPA government if it went ahead with operationalising the agreement for the deal, which has been described as a landmark one by the US.

"Our government is interested in ratifying the (nuclear)agreement since we are energy deficient. There is an overall consensus (in India) that nuclear technology is important," the minister said.

To a question whether a minority government can move forward on the nuclear deal in the event of the Left withdrawing support, Mukherjee said, "Legally and constitutionally speaking, there is nothing called a minority government. But political angularity cannot be ignored."

Mukherjee said there are different ideological positions over the nuclear deal and some of the political parties supporting the government from outside feel the country should not have the agreement with the US.

Ahead of the Bush-Mukherjee meeting, the White House said that the president was "excited" about meeting the external affairs minister and discussing the range of bilateral issues including the civilian nuclear deal.

Describing his visit to the US as very productive and fruitful, Mukherjee in his opening statement said discussions with the US leadership reinforced India's view that the bilateral relationship is robust and forward leaning and answers to the interests of both countries.

"The India-US strategic partnership has grown from strength to strength. I believe there is consensus in both countries to strengthen India-US ties and to further enrich our bilateral agenda," he said.

"We also discussed the way forward on opening civil nuclear cooperation by India with USA and other partners as a critical element of our energy security," he added.

Stating that several countries in India's region are going through a period of transition, Mukherjee said it is in India's direct interest that there should be peace, stability and economic development that will benefit all.

On Pakistan, Mukherjee said it is India's hope that the new government will renew the composite dialogue process and pick up the threads from where President Pervez Musharraf had left.

Mukherjee said he ahd also discussed climate change and the need for a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Trade Round.

Reportage: Sridhar Krishnaswami in Washington/PTI

Image: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee addresses a press conference in Washington on Tuesday.

Photograph: Jay Mandal/On Assignment