Congressman Bobby Jindal supports India-US nuclear deal

New York, Mar 19 (UNI) Piyush (Bobby') Jindal, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, has again come out extending support to the India-US nuclear deal signed earlier this month in New Delhi.

According to a release issued by Indian American Friendship Council, Mr Jindal while addressing a meeting in Richardson, Texas, was optimistic that the deal would pass through the US Congress.

''There are, of course, the obvious reasons to pass--like decreasing competition for oil and gas resources for two growing economies, enhancing economic cooperation and the opportunity for Indian and American businesses to benefit from this cooperation,'' Mr Jindal said adding, and there is also a very important psychological benefit''.

''There's so much momentum that it will send exactly the wrong signal if there was a hiccup or a bump in the relationship if this deal were not approved,'' he said.

The India-US relationship was no longer dominated by the Cold War and the relationship now stands on its own, Mr Jindal said in his keynote address.

Prasad Thotakura, the local organiser of IAFC said, ''We all must talk to our policymakers and convince them to support the deal that was signed by President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''.

In his address to nearly 300 people, Mr Jindal also praised the community for helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana nearly six months ago.

The IAFC is a California-based body set up with a view to promoting bilateral relations in all spheres, UNI XC PR RK1020