Mulford sends reminder: US Congress divided but passed Hyde Act

As a political deadlock in India continues to delay the progress of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal...

As a political deadlock in India continues to delay the progress of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, the US Ambassador to India David Mulford on Tuesday said his country was “respectful” towards India’s democratic process even as it “encourages” New Delhi to move forward on the deal.

Speaking at a function organised by the American Chambers of Commerce in India to felicitate him for an award that he recently won, Mulford said the US was of the view that the civilian nuclear agreement with India was “good for India, good for the world, and good for the US”.

“Following the completion of the negotiations on the 123 Agreement, we continue to encourage the Government of India to move forward to complete the process that President (George) Bush and Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh have delineated and which, when completed, will bring profound economic and non-proliferation benefits,” he said.

The nuclear agreement is facing opposition both from the BJP and the Left parties. Mulford said his country understood the compulsions of the Indian Government.

“In the recent period, we have been respectful of India’s democratic process, and will continue to be,” he said. But then, as if dropping a hint for the political parties in India, he spoke about how the US legislators had sunk their differences to vote for the Hyde Act last year.

“The passage of the Hyde Act last year was an outstanding example of bi-partisan consensus and statesmanship within the US Congress at a time when its members were deeply divided along party lines on many important issues,” Mulford said.

He said the US accorded highest priority to this strategic partnership with India.

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“We seek cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies. Our efforts in India reflect policies and proposals that are of course in the interest of the US and deeply also facilitate India’s long-term development. I believe this is a worthy and honourable vision of the 21st century and I feel proud to be associated with it from the beginning,” he said.