Page 384 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

11 September 2008: President Bush sends the text of the 123 Agreement
to the US Congress for final approval.

22 September 2008: The US remains silent over the controversy in India

triggered by President Bush’s assertions that nuclear fuel supply

assurances to New Delhi under the deal were only political
commitments and not legally binding.

13 September 2008: The State Department issues a fact sheet on the

nuclear deal saying the initiative will help meet India’s growing energy

requirements and strengthen the non-proliferation regime by welcoming
New Delhi into globally accepted non-proliferation standards and

practices.

18 September 2008: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee kicks off

a crucial hearing on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

19 September 2008: America’s nuclear fuel supply assurances to India
are a “political commitment” and the Government cannot “legally

compel” US firms to sell a “given product” to New Delhi, top officials

tell Congressional panel.

21 September 2008: US financial crisis diverts attention from N-deal as
both the Bush Administration and the Congress are bogged down over

efforts to rescue bankrupt American banks’ financial crisis in the
country.

26 September 2008: PM Singh meets President Bush at the White
House, but they were not able to sign the nuclear deal as the Congress

had not approved it.

27 September 2008: House of Representatives approves the Indo-US

nuclear deal. 298 members voted for the Bill while 117 voted against.

1 October 2008: Senate approves the Indo-US civil nuclear deal with 86
votes for and 13 against.

4 October 2008: Secretary of State Rice visits Delhi. India and the US