US Ambassador bats for nuke liability bill

United States Ambassador Timothy J Roemer made it pretty evident on Wednesday that he had no regrets about not getting an opportunity to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who claimed to be too preoccupied to meet him.

The ambassador , who was on a two-day familiarization visit to Lucknow, eventually returned to New Delhi this afternoon.

"President Barrack Obama has particularly instructed me to meet common Indians , which I managed to do in this famous and beautiful city of Lucknow as well. My purpose is not to meet a particular individual or some politician", Roemer told mediapersons during an interaction shortly before his departure from Lucknow.

The US embassy that had sought an appointment for the envoy with Mayawati, was told by the chief minister's office that she would not be able to have a meeting with him, as she was tied down with a series of political engagements.

He said, "but wherever I go, I make it a point to halt by the roadside and try to engage myself in brief conversations with the people on the streets ; and that was what gives me the real feel of the Indian people."

Roemer also said that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 would benefit both US and India.

"The passing of the bill by the Indian parliament would mean a win-win situation for both the countries", he said, while adding, "generating employment as well as giving India abundant clean energy." He said, "I am sure it is a very good story for both the countries."

While skirting a pointed query about the apparent pressure being mounted by US on India to get the bill passed by the parliament he remarked, "I am hopeful that the bill would be able to meet the August 2010 deadline. "

The Bill seeks to provide legal framework for payment of a compensation in the event of an accident at a nuclear installation.

The Bill, which was to be tabled in the Parliament on Friday, was deferred after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, a partner in the ruling United Progressive Alliance joined the opposition parties to oppose it.

However , the US envoy sought to point out,"It was because of the benefits accruing from it that different political leaders had stood in support of the bill." He said, "it was not only prime minister Manmohan Singh , but even former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Bharatiya Janata Party who have supported the provisions of the bill ; likewise back in US, not only President Barrack Obama but even former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton as well as other top leaders were in favour of the Bill. "