“We in the US want the civil nuclear deal to move quickly, for, it’s a very important deal and will help India meet its energy requirements,” Mr Paulson, a key member in the George Bush administration, told newsmen at a rural economic empowerment programme at Amtala in South 24 Parganas district, about 30 kms from the city.
However Mr Paulson, while acknowledging its importance in the context of Indo- US ties, stressed that India has to resolve its own political differences over the issue.

“India has to work out its own mechanism. You all have to work through your own internal political decision. That's up to India,” he pointed out.

According to him, the deal was important for India’s economic growth, energy security and environmental protection efforts.

To a question on if his meeting with Marxist Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee was aimed at softening the hard stance taken by the Left parties towards the nuclear deal, Mr Paulson said: “I have heard a lot about him. He is a great reformer and hence, I have come to meet him.”

The US treasury secretary who arrived here on Saturday and travelled to Amtala on Sunday to meet the recipients of smart cards, later met Mr Bhattacherjee at the state secretariat to discuss investment and the nuclear deal. But he could not brief the media on the outcome of his talks with the chief minister as a section of photographers dashed towards him for a better view as he emerged from the chief minister's chamber, forcing the US securitymen to throw a protective ring around him.

Despite Mr Bhattacherjee’s appeal for calm and order, the photographers jostled with the mediamen and the video crew and Mr Paulson was seen putting fingers on his lips requesting the cameramen to behave. Finally, the chief minister threw his hands in despair and left in a huff.

During his 45-minute meeting with the Chief Minister, the US Treasury Secretary, was believed to have discussed matters relating to the Indo-US nuclear deal and investment opportunities in the state. He also extended an invitation to Mr Bhattacherjee to visit the United States.

Mr Paulson who later visited the museum of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Jorasanko in north Kolkata, is slated to travel to Mumbai and New Delhi for economic conferences and meet Finance Minister P Chidambaram.