Berman's new bill identical to Senate version on N-deal

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Sep 26 (PTI) In signs of early approval of
the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, Congressman Howard Berman has
introduced a legislation on the subject which is exactly
identical to the measure adopted overwhelmingly by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee.
Though the Congressional nod eluded Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh before his meeting with President George W.
Bush, the revised version of Berman's bill raises hopes that
the deal could be approved any time now.

Berman, who has his own reservations over the deal,
introduced in the House of Representatives a new version of
his earlier bill which had some provisions like reporting by
the President to the Congress which could have sabotaged early
Congressional nod for the agreement.

The revised version is expected to be taken up by the
House Friday and passed without much problem because of the
bipartisan support the deal enjoys in the Congress.

Berman is understood to have brought the second version
after Bush Administration officials had talked to him on the
need for early nod to the civil nuclear initiative between
India and the U.S.

Thursday, suspense marked proceedings when Berman
introduced the first version as Singh met Bush at the White
House during which they were keen to sign the deal entered
between them three years ago. But that was not to be in the
absence of Congressional nod.

Berman's revised version and the Senate bill have
provisions that seek to prevent nuclear cooperation with India
in case New Delhi decides to conduct a test.

Experts feel that the harmonisation of Berman's bill with
the Senate version was an attempt to ensure a quick passage in
the House after which it could go to the Senate.

In the Senate, the legislation could be voted without
discussion unanimously on the ground that the House has
already passed the version commended by the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee a couple of days ago.

"We are working hard to get it (the deal) passed as
quickly as possible," Bush told Singh during their meeting.

Both leaders voiced satisfaction at having brought
the deal to a point where it is about to be adopted by the
Congress, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters
in New York after the meeting at the White House which was
followed by dinner at the Old Family Room.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Bush for
having decisively intervened at various crucial levels to move
the deal forward.

Menon said he was not worried if the passage of the
deal is delayed in the Congress. Such a delay would only mean
that the lawmakers are occupied with other important matters,
he said in an obvious reference to the financial bailout
package engaging their attention.