As the Bush administration vigorously pitched for Congress support for the Indo-US nuclear deal, several lawmakers have asked the Indian-American community to launch a massive effort to get the pact approved but cautioned that it will not be easy.

"I not only intend to vote for it but also work for it," remarked Congressman Tom Lantos, at an event on Capitol Hill. The event was also attended by Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, Raminder Singh Jassal, deputy chief of the Indian mission and respresentatives of the US-India Business Alliance, the Indian-American Community Leaders and the Congressional Task Force on US-India Trade.

It was not the first time that Lantos was sending cautioning New Delhi [Images] of the need to be careful and conscious of the environment in Congress. Extreme care must be taken about 'substantive' and 'symbolic' acts, the Ranking Democrat on House International Relations Committee said, in an apparent reference to Iran.

The Indo-Iran relationship has created a flutter on Capitol Hill, the latest having to do with reports of India training the Iranian navy, which have been rejected by both the Indian government and the US State Department.

Lantos said that the passage of the civilian nuclear agreement is on top of the agenda but that 'it will not be easy', a theme emphasised by other speakers at the event.

"This can be done. But it's going to take a lot more," remarked Frank Pallone, the Founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans. He also asked the Indian-American community to set up a 'war room' and launch a massive effort to get the draft legislation on the deal through Congress.

The Indo-US nuclear tango