Dan Burton drops anti-India plea

Burton gave no reasons for withholding his amendment and his office did not return calls seeking comments. The Khalistani outfits in the US which depends on him to publicise their cause did not comment either. Delighted Indian officials surmised that it was because of the gradual loss of support for Burton and his cause on the Hill.

The Burton Amendment has progressively been defeated by bigger and bigger margins overthe years. It failed to gather even 100 votes in the House last year, being routed 342-82 as Indian supporters assembled a powerful coalition of lawmakers on the Hill, led by the nearly 100-strong India Caucus.

On Wednesday night, as Burton quietly attached his amendment to the FOAB – there can sometimes be a furtive quality to legislative maneuvers – Indian officials and lobbyists sprang into action, alerting constituents and supporters to oppose the move.

Indian ambassador Naresh Chandra also dashed off a letter to US Congressmen arguing any amendment calculated to censure India will unduly affect adversely a very positive process that is unfolding between the two countries in the aftermath of the nuclear test. The process includes steps being taken by the Senate and the Congress to give the President authority to waive the sanctions which in itself was an indication of the importance of economic relations between the two countries.

The US and India are on the verge of restoring greater confidence intheir relations through better understanding of each others security and concerns. The momentum gathered gained in trade and investments also needs to be maintained. A negative sign to India from the US Congress at this juncture will dampen these important efforts, Chandra wrote.

Burton has also been embroiled in his own problems in a House already distracted by the debate over President Clinton’s sex scandal. The Indiana Congressman recently confessed to an adulterous affair and bearing a child out of wedlock. Although there was really no danger of the Burton Amendment being passed, Indian officials were concerned about the margin of victory if it came to the floor given the developments on the nuclear front.

It would have been the first such vote after the nuclear tests, an event which put US lawmakers in a sour mood. Judging from the latest developments, it appears the mood has passed and New Delhi could again find favour on the Hill.

The big test though is expected to come next week when the Houseis expected to take up an amendment that will authorise President Clinton to partially waive sanctions. Such a move, among other gestures will clear the decks for India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.