Natwar Singh mellows down, seeks meeting with PM

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) A day after his diatribe against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following his suspension from the Congress for indiscipline, former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today appeared to be making efforts to mend fences with the Congress leadership.

According to sources, Mr Singh sought a meeting with the Prime Minister earlier in the day today to explain his position as regards Pathak Inquiry Authority Report on Volcker allegations. However, it was not confirmed whether the meeting took place.

Mr Singh greeted the Prime Minister with ''Namashkar'' when he came face to face with him in the Rajya Sabha today.

The former External Affairs Minister also had a brief meeting with Minister of Parliamentary Affairs P R Dasmunsi and Minister of State in his Ministry Suresh Pachouri. Samajvadi Party leader Amar Singh was also present there.

Though what transpired at the meeting was not known, he is understood to have been favourably inclined towards Mr Amar Singh's suggestion to seek a meeting with the Prime Minister to explain his stand, particularly on India-US nuclear deal.

During his meeting with Mr Dasmunsi, the latter told Mr Natwar Singh that he should publicly apologisn for openly criticising the Prime Minster before he sought a meeting with him.

However, Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi at his routine briefing ruled out any approachment bid being made by the party with Mr Natwar Singh and said it was wrong to jump to any conclusion.

A much-mellowed Mr Singh, in an interview to Times Now last night, said he would not speak against any one, especially from the Gandhi family, in the Rajya Sabha and that nobody was misleading him. ''I will never, never say anything remotely critical of the Nehru Gandhi family and certainly not at this stage of Mrs Sonia Gandhi to whom I owe so many debts," he asserted in the interview.

''I am not going to say anything improper, anything impolite about the Prime Minister or abouot anybody,'' Mr Singh said.

UNI YS PR RAI2203