Govt will continue to discuss N deal with Left : Pranab

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has categorically refused to give in to the Left Front's criticism of the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government had discussed the matter with the Left and would continue to discuss it with them.

''We have discussed it with them (Left) and will discuss it at any point of time,'' the External Affairs Minister said on the sidelines of a seminar here.

He did not elaborate.

He was speaking to reorters after delivering a lecture on 'India and Africa : Strong Bonds and Prospects.' The Prime Minister was today quoted in an interview as having said ''I told them (Left parties) that it is not possible to re-negotiate the deal...The cabinet has approved it and we cannot go back on it.'' The Left Parties, which have 64 Members of Parliament and form a crucial ally of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, have warned that the government may have to pay a ''heavy price'' if it went ahead with the nuclear agreement.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to make a statement in Parliament on the issue on Monday.

UNI