"A delegation of U.S. congressmen, which is visiting India, is looking in an upbeat mood to see the Indian administration showing enthusiasm in working out a program for the separation of its nuclear facilities to meet the condition of India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement," said senior political analyst A.B. Mahapatra.

He said with India keen to separate nuclear installations despite opposition from the left parties, the nuclear agreement signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will go through.

"India is willing to separate its civilian and nuclear facilities and programs and impose safeguards as required by the International Atomic Energy Agency," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., who has in the past been critical of India's human rights record in Kashmir, is in New Delhi to attend a seminar organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

"I am leaning toward the nuclear agreement," Burton said. "But we want a definite separation between civilian and military programs.

"If that is assured, I am sure it will be addressed," Burton said, referring to the required amendment in U.S. laws to allow supply of nuclear energy to India for civilian purposes.

"Everyone in the United States agrees that this is a good time to talk to India," Burton said.

The delegation of congressmen will also meet Singh to discuss the progress made by New Delhi about the implementation of the nuclear agreement.

Washington has pressured India to speed up separation of its military and civilian nuclear establishments.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said it has taken serious note of the "positive" statement made by the delegation about the Indian nuclear program and its obligation toward the India-U.S. nuclear agreement.

There have been reports the United States has said India was abdicating its nuclear capabilities by acquiescing to additional U.S. demands in meeting the deal.

"There was no additional conditionality beyond what was written into the July 18 agreement," an Indian Foreign Office official said.

Bush and Singh signed a civilian nuclear agreement July 18 under which the United States agreed to supply nuclear energy to India on the condition New Delhi separated its civilian and nuclear installations.

Singh has been facing resistance from his left-party allies, who accused him of giving too much to the United States.

"We do not support the agreement as it is not in the interest of the country," said D. Raja, secretary of the Communist Party of India.

The left parties also warned the government against separating its nuclear facilities to meet the obligations of the agreement, saying it involves huge costs.

"The civilian nuclear agreement would go a long way in meeting our energy requirements in future," Singh said.

As the pressure from the left parties increased, the federal government decided to go slow on the issue of separation.

"The United States has reminded India to accelerate its commitment so President Bush can take the matter to the U.S. Congress for the ratification of the agreement signed between the two nations," Mahapatra said.

The U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns visited India in October and discussed the matter with Indian authorities. He wanted India to complete the process before Bush's visit to India early next year.

"The two sides hope to show enough progress on the separation of nuclear facilities before President Bush arrives for his state visit to India in February 2006," said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.

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