The Indo-US nuclear deal has got another push.
US Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, has exhorted Indian-Americans to use their "clout and influence" to prevail on the Indian public to support the deal as it is so beneficial to both countries.
Wilson, speaking at the Congressional reception and dinner on Capitol Hill, hosted by the Asian-American Hotel Owners Association, said, "I am really grateful that we've had the extraordinary circumstance of promoting the civilian nuclear agreement between India and the US, and I urge all of you to use your influence to work with colleagues and friends that you have in India, and with members of Congress," to expedite the consummation of the deal.
"This is an agreement that has been worked out between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush that is beneficial to both countries," he said.
Wilson, who represents South Carolina, argued that uninterrupted power supply was imperative if India were to continue on its impressive growth path toward becoming an emerging power in the global marketplace.
He recalled: "During my visit to India, I was so concerned at the periodic power interruptions. In modern countries, we know that you simply cannot operate if there are power interruptions, and people shouldn't have to worry about having generators to kick back in as I was visiting in a hotel in Delhi."
Wilson said the way to alleviate this problem "was to have a civilian nuclear agreement of nuclear power plants--clean energy because we are all concerned and we should be about the environment in India, about the environment of
the world and the US."
"And, we now, have amazingly come to the conclusion that we should have many years ago that nuclear power is the cleanest and safest power in the world."
Wilson said, "I am really grateful that that's coming together between the US and India."