India tells US: No economic reforms till next general elections

India has confessed to the U.S. that economic reforms, particularly in retail and foreign direct investment, are not possible till next general elections, slated for next year, as the country's Parliament would not approve, sources said Tuesday. "This was conveyed bluntly to visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry by the Deputy Chairperson of India's Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, during a delegation-level meeting, led by the top American diplomat and Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, at the India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in the national capital Monday," the sources said. Kerry, who arrived in India Sunday on a three-day visit, was apprised by Ahluwalia of the problems of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in getting the approval of the Indian Parliament for the proposed economic reforms due to the country's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's stiff rebuff to them, the sources added. The U.S. eyes India for greater economic opportunities for its companies. The bilateral trade between the two countries currently stands at 108 billion U.S. dollars.