It’s learnt that the government has decided that the PM will convey an unambiguous message on the nuclear deal to not only Bush, but even to key leaders of China, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Japan and Germany apart from Russia, France and UK in a bid to canvass support for India’s case at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Germany is the current chair of NSG.

Without indicating a specific date, sources said, the PM will make it clear that the political uncertainty in New Delhi over the nuclear deal was nearing resolution and a decision on approaching the IAEA with the safeguards agreement will be taken “very quickly” soon after he returns. He will also ask Bush to start making the necessary preparations to move the NSG for a “clean exemption” as committed by the US in the July 2005 joint statement.

India and US, it may be noted, are working to telescope the timeframe for the IAEA and NSG processes so that both can move simultaneously. Taking 45 days from July 15, officials feel both countries can aim to complete both processes by early September. This will allow the Bush Administration to approach the US Congress with a Presidential determination that all steps mandated by the Hyde Act had been duly completed.

Given that the Left has taken a stand that it will withdraw support from the UPA government the moment it decides to confirm the safeguards agreement to IAEA, sources said, the government was not keen to precipitate a political crisis while the PM is abroad. As a result, the all-important decision to approach the IAEA will be taken only on his return.

However, the government is certain not to keep the US and other key countries guessing. It is in this context that the government has decided to send out a clear signal on the issue political high table in Toyako where 16 important countries will be present. Most of them are NSG members and have been awaiting a clear decision from New Delhi on the issue.

In fact, French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently wrote a letter to the PM on assuming presidency of the European Union July 1 and once again reaffirmed his strong support for the nuclear deal, hoping that India would be able to take the necessary steps soon to start bilateral nuclear trade. Besides the Indo-US 123 agreement, India has also completed negotiations on similar agreements with France and Russia. But these countries cannot honour the agreements until India obtains exemption from the NSG.

India is keen that it gets a “clean” exemption from NSG which makes no reference to nuclear testing. While some individual countries have stringent domestic laws that may prevent them from cooperating with India in the event of a nuclear test, New Delhi will lobby to ensure that no such clause is inserted in the exemption granted to India.

Singh will meet Bush on Wednesday morning, but before that he will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday. Beijing’s approach will be critical to India’s plans. On his way back from Beijing after a bilateral visit in January, the PM had said: “When the issue (nuclear deal) does come before the relevant agency, I don’t think China will be an obstacle though I cannot say I have that assurance today.”

Singh will make the bid to win that elusive assurance from China which had attempted to float a proposal in the NSG for a criteria-based approach on conducting civil nuclear cooperation with the three countries outside the NPT. However, the US is backing a special exemption only for India.