US President George W Bush on Friday asked Indian Americans to convince the India Caucus in the US Senate to support the civilian nuclear deal with India.
During talks here with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Bush said he wanted Indian Americans to play their role in ensuring that Congress backs the deal.
Reddy later told reporters that while acknowledging the contributions being made by Indian Americans, Bush had wanted them to seek support from senators like Hilary Clinton, who is the co-chair of the India Caucus in the US Senate.
"When I congratulated Bush for reaching the agreement with India, he said it was only the beginning and we have a long way to go," Reddy said.
The India Caucus comprises about three dozen senators who have banded together informally to push for better relations between the US and India.
Many of them, like Hilary Clinton, have large Indian American communities in their states.
When Reddy pointed out that many professionals like doctors and software engineers from Andhra Pradesh were living in the US for decades, Bush asked him to use his influence with the Indian Americans to mobilise support for the nuclear deal.
"I promised I would do my best," Reddy said as he appealed to Indian Americans, especially those from Andhra Pradesh, to impress on the India Caucus the need to support the deal.
{{/usCountry}}"I promised I would do my best," Reddy said as he appealed to Indian Americans, especially those from Andhra Pradesh, to impress on the India Caucus the need to support the deal.
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