PM meets Karat to discuss Nuclear deal

New Delhi, Aug 14: In a fresh bid to break the impasse between the government and the Left on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was also present at the breakfast meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence 7, Race Course Road, where ''issues connected with the Bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between India and the United States were discussed,''Prime Minister Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru told reporters.

Mr Karat stated that he would put these points before the party's Polit Bureau which will meet over the weekend. Both Dr Singh and Mr Karat reiterated that the efforts would be made to sort out the issues, Mr Baru said.

The Indo-Nuclear accord has been mired in controvery with the entire the Opposition as well as the Left parties terming it ''unacceptable''and claimimg that it would degrade India's strategic capabilities. Parliament was adjourned for the day yesterday after the Opposition and Left party members repeatedly stalled the proceedings, vociferously protesting against the pact, including when the Prime Minister was making a suo motu statement on it.

UNI