Obama,Rahul Gandhi back N-Deal

Barack Obama, who’s set to run for US president as the Democratic nominee, has indicated that he has no problems with the deal in its present form.Obama—who has surged ahead of Republican rival John McCain in opinion polls—said the existing agreement effectively balances a range of important issues, from America’s strategic relationship with India to its non-proliferation concerns to India’s energy needs. “I am, therefore, reluctant to seek changes,” he said. The remarks, made in an interview to Outlook magazine, may come as a cold shower to those who want India to renegotiate the deal with the next US administration. Asked whether an Obama administration in 2009 would be willing to reopen or even scrap the deal if it isn’t clinched this year, he replied, “A final judgement on the deal…must await the IAEA’s approval of a safeguards agreement with India and changes to be agreed (upon) by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). At that point, the US Congress will decide whether to approve the agreement. I continue to hope this process can be concluded before the end of the year.” He admitted he had some reservations about the original agreement, but subsequently concluded that “it would enhance our (US-India) partnership and deepen our cooperation and help combat global warming”.

Ahead of the critically poised trust vote in the Lok Sabha on July 21-22, the nuclear pact has got a crucial vote of confidence with Congress’s heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi saying it was worth risking the government for the deal. “It is a good deal. It is a decision in the national interest. We should stand by it irrespective of whether the government stays or not,’’ the youngest party general secretary said at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee held to review the tumultuous events culminating in the Left’s pullout and leading to the trust vote. The PM looked distinctly relieved when Rahul had finished speaking. He walked up to his young colleague with a broad smile and shook his hand.Rahul said the Congress should not be defensive about the deal, and should instead project the strategic advantage that would accrue to the country as a result. He also referred to the feeling in most developed nations that India had got a good deal. Many in the party feel that Rahul’s may have been the invisible hand behind the PM’s boldness in reviving what was seen as a dead deal in the teeth of opposition from the Left and anxieties within his own government.