US woos BJP for N-deal support

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Pursuing efforts to get wider political support for the Indo-US nuclear deal, American Ambassador David C Mulford and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Monday met the top brass of BJP in an apparent bid to assuage its concerns.

The saffron party however maintained it cannot accept the deal in the "present form" and vowed to oppose the pact when it comes up for debate in Parliament. Mulford met BJP chief Rajnath Singh while Kissinger held parleys with Advani.

The visiting US Treasury Secretary Henry M Paulson also did his bit to flag the deal saying it is an important part of Indo-US relationship which would provide India access to technology while helping it achieve its economic and environmental objectives.

Paulson had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but what transpired at the meeting was not immediately known. "The US remains committed to this agreement," Paulson, said at the US-India CEO Forum held in Mumbai.

Mulford, who met Advani last week, drove to Singh's residence and held an hour-long meeting with him to "understand the party's concern as well as its position". The US envoy explained in detail the "highlights" of the deal and "provided an overview" of its various clauses.

Singh, in turn, noted his party's concerns over the deal, particularly issues relating to India's strategic concerns, right to conduct nuclear test and its impact on the country's independent foreign policy. Singh, who gave no commitment, later called on Advani and briefed him about the parleys.

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said the "deal signed by the UPA government in the present form was not acceptable to us" and "we are ready to oppose it Parliament."

Kissinger's meeting with Advani was apparently to convince him and came a day after he pressed for its implementation.