INDIA NEEDS TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES TO CONCLUDE NUKE DEAL

Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) - Amidst uncertainties looming
over the fate of Indo-US nuclear agreement, the US has asked
India to go for some "tough choices" in making the deal a
possibility.

"... President Bush pressed for the civilian nuclear
agreement with India against strong opposition because he's
committed to our long-term strategic partnership. Now India
needs to make some tough choices," Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez has said.

Noting that rising demand of energy cannot be ignored, he
expressed hope that India will quickly move forward to fully
realise the potential of this historic agreement.

"... rising demand for energy is an issue that our
countries can’t ignore. We believe it's essential to quickly
implement the landmark civilian nuclear agreement and bring
India into the international nuclear non-proliferation
mainstream," he said at United States India Business Council
(USIBC) 33rd anniversary celebrations here.

The US remains committed to being India's partner in
providing clean, sustainable energy. While this includes
nuclear power, it also means using other clean energy
technologies, he added.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had said that the Indo-US
nuclear deal has not been shelved and the Indian government is
moving forward to evolve a political consensus within the
country.

"We are moving toward a political consensus inch by inch.
I don't think it has been put away and I am confident that at
some point we are going to arrive at this political consensus
within India and that's the best way to do it," he said.