Swadesh Chatterjee, a physicist who left India in November 1978, is the national president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education, a nationwide organisation whose goals are to boost the political participation by members of the Indian-American community. The Indian-American caucus is the second largest on Capitol Hill (the Hispanic caucus is the largest) and Chatterjee is trying to leverage that to lobby for the Indo-US nuclear deal that requires Congressional clearance to be operational. He spoke to Aditi Phadnis on the issues and challenges for the deal in this crucial last session before the US elections.
So you’re setting off? Yes, we’re ready to camp in Washington to see Congress gets the nuclear done by September 26. It hasn’t been easy: We were in Washington on July 29, preparing the ground in Congress, holding a series of briefings with the State Department and members of Senate and the House of Representatives; and then in August, waiting for the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group meeting.
Now, my team at the US-India Friendship Council (formed in 2005 solely to help take the nuclear agreement forward) and I will be in Washington on September 10 and 11 and then again on September 16 and 17. We’ve got to get it done. What does this entail ?
There are two things: One is the 30-day clause in both the House (of Representatives) and Senate. The rule is that legislation has to be in Congress for 30 business days for members to study it.
In the Senate, we had a powerful ally and friend of India in Senator Joe Biden. But he’s now busy campaigning because he has been named Barack Obama’s running mate. But despite that, if we go by the majority that the Hyde Act received (359-68 in the House and 85-12 in Senate) we should not face a problem in Congress.
But we have to be very careful. The rule is that if you seek a 30-day waiver, any Senator or Representative can move amendments. We don’t want that.
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So how many people will you have to talk to?
Thankfully, not too many because, in this case, it is not the grassroot which has to be addressed, only the leadership of the committees, which is 8-10 key people. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has already spoken to the House Committee Chairman Howard Berman, who has made no secret of his opposition to the deal.
The two committees (in the House and the Senate) will meet separately, scrutinise the papers and reconcile them. Then the package will be put to an up-and-down vote*. All this has to be completed before September 26. So, there’s very little time and a lot to do.
When do you think the process will start?
By the middle of this week, possibly Wednesday or Thursday, we hope the packets will be in Congress.
What is the worst-case scenario?
That it won’t happen by September 26, that Congress will have other pressing domestic agenda, and might spill over to October. Then, of course, the 30-day deadline can be met. But if it misses, a lame duck session might have to be called in November, which means we begin lobbying for that to happen.
If that is the case, the deal will still be good for an up-and-down vote till January 4. Since it has bipartisan support, we’re sure the new President will clear it.
Even if Obama is the President, given that he was the one who moved several killer amendments…?
Obama has a very pro-India policy team. He has Joe Biden on his team, who is very close to the Indian community. I am sure we can persuade Obama to see things differently.
*Refers to a yes or no vote without seeking amendments