US lawmaker Biden to push nuclear deal 'like the devil'

The Economic Times
Jul 16, 2008

WASHINGTON: A key US lawmaker has vowed to push the India-US nuclear deal in the Congress "like the devil" if New Delhi gets its end done, but fears its passage is going to be "very, very tight". "I am going to push like the devil...," Joseph R. Biden, Democratic chairman of the powerful US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was quoted as saying Tuesday. If India "gets their end done", he would endeavour to get the agreement completed, Biden told Rediff.com. Biden lauded Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to go ahead with the deal despite the withdrawal of support by Left parties. "I compliment the prime minister in making the move he's made and we are going to do everything we can to help accommodate it," Biden said. The lawmaker, who is expected to play a key role in moving it forward, said the landmark agreement could still be completed before the current Congress adjourns. "It's possible, but it's very, very tight."