By Parveen Chopra
New York, July 22 (IANS) Indian American community leaders Tuesday wholeheartedly welcomed the news of the Manmohan Singh government winning the parliamentary confidence motion, terming it as an endorsement for the India-US nuclear deal. “It is a mandate of the people of India for the nuclear deal. Ordinary people want energy, electricity,” Surinder Malhotra, president of the Indian National Overseas Congress, told IANS. The executive committee of the Overseas Congress was meeting later Tuesday evening to celebrate the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government’s victory in the trial of strength, he added.

It is a welcome news for the Indian Americans, said Thomas Abraham, chairman of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (Gopio) International, because the community had worked hard to change the minds of many US lawmakers to vote for the nuclear deal and would have been disappointed if the government had fallen.

He added: “India not only needs more energy, the nuclear deal will also pave way for advanced countries to bring cutting edge technology into India, which it badly needs to be able to step ahead of rival China.”

Abraham felt that the go-ahead on the deal will also show to the world that India follows through its agreements and deals with others.

Yash Pal Soi, president of the Federation of Indian Associations (Tristate), said, “With stability of the Indian government, progress in the country will continue.”

Sanku Rao, new president of the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), said, “It is good that Manmohan Singh continues as prime minister. He as finance minister laid down the financial structure that we have in India now, and he is a man of integrity. Also, now, hopefully, the nuclear deal, for which we worked hard, will not get delayed any further - it is a top priority to move with for India.”

Business leaders from the community also welcomed the development in India.

Tejinder Pal Singh Bindra, senior vice-president of the Jeetish group of companies in New York, who is also prominent in Sikh affairs, said: “It is good that the Manmohan Singh government took a stand and succeeded. It will send a message that others cannot hijack its agenda.”

He added, “It is good for business. Now more business and investment can flow into India. As an Indian and a Sikh, I welcome the news.”