Washington, July 27: Buoyed by the UPA government's victory in the crucial trust vote over the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Indian-American community leaders have started lobbying decision-makers here to ensure smooth passage of the historic accord in the American Congress।
The community leaders are not wasting any more time and are organising their first strategy session here tomorrow evening। The general perception among leaders of the community is that much time has already been lost.
With the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh getting through the vote of confidence last week, efforts are on to contact top Congressional leaders right away।
"The Indian American community did its part for the Hyde Act... Now once again Indian American community has to ensure the final passage of 123 agreement by the US Congress। We are ready to do so. Leaders of various organisations are meeting in DC on Monday for this purpose," Ashok Mago, Chairman of the Dallas-based USINDIA FORUM said.
Mago is one of the community leaders who played an important role in getting most of the Texas delegation in the House of Representatives and the Senate behind the Hyde Act in 2006।
"The real focus here begins from the first week of September when members of Congress return after their District work period," a highly-placed source seeking anonymity said।
He explained that New Delhi should be expected to have wrapped up all the procedures and processes pertaining to the civilian nuclear deal by the time Congress returns from the August recess।
"It is not going to be easy। But we have no doubt that the administration and leadership of both the republican and democrat party will do everything to ensure that this historic agreement between the two nations is concluded under their watch," Mago said in a statement.
As things stand the House of Representatives has a target adjournment date of September 26 and the Senate Majority Leader Democrat Harry Reid has indicated that he has no problem in having the same timeline for the Senate।
Normally Congress sits in session until the first week of October, but this time around it is earlier because of the Presidential elections -- all 435 members of the House and one third of the 100-member Senate face elections along with the Presidential poll on November 4।
Sources say that there is no sanctity behind the September 26 target adjournment date and that this could get extended inspite of the elections। And there are others who believe that mere technicalities on the passage of the civilian nuclear agreement should not stand in the way either.
"There is a technical rule that makes it a little difficult in Congress -- the thirty day continuous session requirement। But Congress can make an exception because Senators Barack Obama and John McCain have both said they support the deal," Walter Andersen, Associate Director of the South Asian Programme of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University said.
Congressional Staffers argue that the thirty-day rule cannot be waived or shortened -- at least not without sinking the whole deal. The argument here has been that getting rid of the thirty day rule could bring in opposition from Senators who could threaten to filibuster the move.
