Trust Vote over, Govt steps the gas on N-deal process

India's envoy to Washington Ronen Sen met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Other stories in the section:

N-deal may not reach US Congress for a vote

India has finalised the nuclear safeguards agreement with IAEA.

• India to seek Japan's support in NSG
• IAEA green signal doesn't mean N-deal is through

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• N-deal may not reach US Congress for a vote
• India to seek Japan's support in NSG
• IAEA green signal doesn't mean N-deal is through

Keywords: David Mulford, Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: In the clearest sign yet that India has fast-tracked the Indo-US nuclear deal proceedings with the US, India's envoy to Washington Ronen Sen met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee a day after the Trust Vote in Parliament.

However, Mukherjee said, “There is no question of fast-tracking or slow-tracking the process (sic).”

In the days ahead, top ministers and officials are said to visit world capitals. MoS for External Affairs Anand Sharma will go to South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, MoS PMO Prithviraj Chavan is responsible for getting China onboard. Former diplomat Chinmaye Gare Khan will soon be off to Saudi Arabia, Morrocco and Malta and the PM’s special envoy will be in Ireland, Latin America and Australia.

India's envoys in NSG countries will also approach host governments to gather support.

The PM has initiated a high voltage campaign to make sure that there are no problems for the deal at the IAEA and NSG. Meanwhile, a similar initiative is also underway on the American side.

On Friday, the IAEA briefs all 144 member countries on the safeguards text and the US has promised it will work on countries like Pakistan who are not yet onboard.

The IAEA board is likely to approve the safeguards agreement on August 1. Then the US will push for the NSG to meet within days and for it to give a clean waiver in August itself.

In an exclusive interview to Network18, envoy David Mulford said there's a reasonable chance that Congress would clear it within September.

“The first NSG meeting is by August 15, clearance is by the end of the month. The US will make sure that NSG countries fall in line,” Mulford said.

George Bush and Manmohan Singh made history in 2005, now the President and Prime Minister can be reasonably hopeful that they'll leave a nuclear legacy behind.

(With inputs from Atishay Abhi)