Amid expectation that the bill on Indo-US civil nuclear deal would be taken up by the Senate in the 'lame-duck' session in November, Washington on Friday said the Bush administration will keep on pushing for conclusion of the process even if it spills over into the next Congress.
US Ambassador David C Mulford also expressed confidence that differences between India and his country over issues like conduct of nuclear tests by India in the future would be resolved amicably under the bilateral nuclear agreement, also called 123 agreement.
The Bush administration is committed to push the bill and will continue following up, he told reporters about the legislation which is before the Senate but could not be put to vote due to technical reasons and "time ran out".
The Senate term ended on September 27 and Congressional polls are to be held on November 7. The Senate will meet after the elections for a brief 'lame-duck' session when the bill is expected to be taken up for voting.
There may be delay in concluding the agreement because of the Congressional process but there is no reduction in commitment, Mulford said.
{{/usCountry}}There may be delay in concluding the agreement because of the Congressional process but there is no reduction in commitment, Mulford said.
{{/usCountry}}He noted that the agreement enjoys strong bipartisan support and that members of both the ruling Republican and opposition Democratic Party would want to be on the right side of history and India.
However, if the Congressional process and signing by the President do not take place during the term of the present Congress, the entire process will be taken up again from the start when the next Congress is formed in January next year, he said.