Don't 'disadvantage' US firms if N-deal not okayed by Cong

WASHINGTON: Apparently worried over the possibility of other NSG members getting away with lucrative nuclear contracts with India after the landmark waiver, the US has asked New Delhi not to "disadvantage" Americans companies should the 123 agreement not get through the current Congress.

"We have talked to the Indian government about not disadvantaging American companies and I think they recognise and appreciate American leadership on this issue. But obviously, the best thing would be to get it through Congress" Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Rice remarked.

".. we will have to see. The congressional calendar is short, but the main thing is the international work is now done. I certainly hope to get it through because it's also a big step for the US-India relationship," Rice told reporters travelling with her in Algeris, capital of Algeria.

Terming the waiver granted to India by the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers group (NSG) as a "huge step" in bilateral ties, Rice also complimented the role played by the Indian government at the NSG meeting in Vienna.

"This is an important step forward. I have to say that India showed a lot of leadership," she said.

"We got lot of help from the Indian government to make this possible, but also from a number of delegations that worked very closely with us. And I think that it is a really very big step forward for the non-proliferation framework" she was quoted as saying by transcript released by the State Department.

Rice said that she did make a "lot" of calls in the run up to the decision in Vienna but would not divulge the content of the various conversations she had.

"...I had extensive discussions of this when I was in New Zealand, with the prime minister and the foreign minister. I have talked at least to the Irish, the Austrians, the Chinese. I will get you a list... but it's been a lot," she said.