Having tied up “a couple of loose ends” in negotiations with India, the Bush administration is exuding confidence that it can move forward with consideration of the legislation on nuclear deal before the summer recess by July-end. “There is a lot of activity up on the Hill right now, but it is our hope that we can move forward with consideration of legislation this spring and summer,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. As he put it, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the White House are “deeply involved” in trying to move the process forward on the Hill. “We think it’s an important deal: it’s good for the US, it’s good for India, it’s good for the world.”

It was an agitation that made headlines for a month and a half. For a bit, the stir by medical practitioners and students of MBBS over the Government’s reservation proposal seemed interminable. Doctors were threatening to fast and immolate themselves. They were undeterred by lathi-charges and water canons. A rally on May 27 witnessed over 5,000 persons, including students, pledging support to the agitation. Finally, the medicos called off their stir on the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The apex court assured the agitating medical community that the quota system proposed by the Government would be struck down if found contrary to Constitutional provisions. It helped the doctors resume work.