Deal is sealed, signed and non negotiable: PM

New Delhi, Aug.11: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Saturday categorically ruled out renegotiating the US-India civil nuclear deal, despite a threat from the government's Left allies that operationalizing the deal would be a 'national tragedy'.

"We have taken a decision, and we will go by it. The deal is signed and sealed, and it is non negotiable," Dr Singh told reporters during an informal chat on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony of the Vice President Hamid Ansari.

The Prime Minister said that he felt sorry for the Left, as in his view, his government had met all of their crucial nine points that they had raised before the negotiations with the US had begun.

"A government can't function like this. My statement in the parliament in the next 48 hours will clear all doubts. I feel sorry for the Left . Earlier, they said that they will support the deal. I have delivered what I promised," said Dr. Singh.

He, however, ruled out any danger to the stability of his government over the issue. Describing his earlier statement to a national daily about his resignation on the issue as "conditional," PM appeared confident about convincing the Left about the viability of the deal.

Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also replied "no" to a question on the possibility of holding a mid term election.

CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yeuchury, who was standing next to Sonia, also ruled out a mid term election. He, however, said that his party "will go by our own conscience."

"There are differences.We don't agree with the government. I don't resort to rhetoric and polemics" CPIÏ¿½ leader D Raja said.

Earlier in an interview to a national daily Prime Minister had dared the Left leaders to withdraw the support to his government on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

"I told them (the Left) that it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. It is an honourable deal, the cabinet has approved it, and we cannot go back on it. I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support, so be it...." Singh was quoted as saying.

The Prime Minister's virtual challenge to the Left , whose 64 members in Lok Sabha provides a crucial support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government comes in the context of strong statements made by CPI-M leader Prakash Karat and CPI A B Bardhan. The Left leaders had warned that the government may have to pay a "heavy price" if it went ahead with the nuclear deal with the US.

Singh wants the communist allies to be fair in dealing with the government and they should not understand the deal from the narrow political world view.

Major political parties,like opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA),United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Left are opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The Monsoon session of the parliament is expected to be stormy on this issue with all parties gearing up to stall the proceedings on this issue.

The BJP wants a debate under the Rule 184 that allows the division of the votes while the Left favours a discussion under the Rule 193 that does not call for division of votes in the parliament.

ANI>