Al Gore will host lunch for Atal

Such interaction is rare given the seemingly ceremonial role the vice-president has in the American system, but the meeting is a reflection of the unusual timing and circumstances of the Vajpayee visit. Besides, even without the presidential bid, Gore has been a more activist vice-president than any others in recent history.

Gore is virtually the shadow president and President Clinton is promoting him vigorously despite his public stance of distancing himself and emerging as an independent candidate.

The sources said efforts were also on to see if the Prime Minister could meet Republican challenger George Bush. A section of the Indian-American community that is Republican-inclined is pressing the Indian government for such a meeting, but Bush8217;s election travel schedule makes such a meeting difficult to bring about.

Vajpayee will get a ceremonial welcome on the lawns of the White House on the morning of September 15, followed by talks with President Clinton. On September 16, he will participate in a function to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a public square in front of the Indian Embassy.

Most significantly, he will later take part in an inter-faith meeting at the National Cathedral, a meaningful gesture aimed at addressing propaganda here about the runaway fundamentalism in India and emphasising India8217;s strong secular and multireligious credentials. Both President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, as also Al Gore, have been invited to the events. New Delhi is awaiting a response.

Vajpayee will also address a joint session of the US Congress on September 14, a tricky engagement for the planners since the lawmakers will readying for the rough and tumble of elections. Indian grassroots activists have already begun a letters campaign urging their local Senators and Congressmen to attend the joint session on that day amid fears that the chambers could be half-empty.

Vajpayee8217;s one-on-one meeting with Gore is significant because of the vice-president8217;s strong views on non-proliferation and his intense activism on environment and related global issues. In the event of his winning the November election, New Delhi could come under immense pressure on these fronts and the feeling in the Indian camp is it is better if the Prime Minister acquaints him with the Indian position right now.

The Indian side is more sanguine about a possible Bush administration, given its stronger defence orientation and China and the way the chips would fall because of that position. Despite the general impression that New Delhi has had it better under Democratic administration, Indo-US relations were excellent during the administration of the senior George Bush.

Still, New Delhi is spreading its bets, and as is the practice here, it has sent teams to both the Republican and Democratic conventions.