George Bush to sign Indo-US Nuclear bill on Oct 8

Washington, Oct 5: Its final now, nuke deal is all set to become law! George W Bush will sigh the Indo-US nuclear bill into law at a function at White House on Oct 8.

Bush will sign the Bill H R 7081, named after Howard Berman, a Democrat who was strongly opposed to the deal on non-proliferation grounds but was brought around to accepting it recently, on Wednesday, Oct 8, at the White House. "The President cordially invites you to the Signing of H R 7081, United States India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act," reads an invitation sent out by the White House.

The signing of the US India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-Proliferation Enhancement Act would bring to culmination the process which started on July 18, 2005 when the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, during his visit to Washington issued a joint statement with Bush.

The Indo-US nuclear deal was passed by the US House of Representatives with a two-third majority while the US Senate approved it with more than four-fifths of the vote.

Along with some of the Key Congressmen and senior officials of the Bush Administration a number of Indian Americans, who played a key role in making this a reality in such a quick time are also expected to attend the historic occasion,

It is believed that Bush would use the occasion to thank all of them to help him achieve his major foreign policy achievement of his eight-years of presidency.

Once the bill is signed into law, India would sign the 123 agreement with the United States. India so far, it is learnt, had been reluctant to sign the agreement without Bush signing the bill into law.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to come to Washington soon to sign the agreement with his US counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, who herself was in New Delhi a day before.

OneIndia News