PM alone can prevent an early election: V P Singh

New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh today said if the UPA government fell on the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should be held responsible and not the Left parties.

''It depends on Dr Manmohan Singh,'' he told reporters at his residence in reply to a query on if he foresees an early election.

''If the democratic instinct of Dr Singh prevails, there will be no election,'' he said, while adding that ''If Bush (US President George Bush) prevails, we will have election along with the US Presidential election''.

''Nobody is saying the government per se should go,'' he said, while pointing out that the UPA could prevent the fall of its government if it could hold back the nuke deal, which was opposed by a majority of the political parties.

Mr Singh criticised the government for its insincerity in implementing the India-Pakistan-Iran pipeline project, and said the government owed an explanation on why it had dropped the project which should have helped India get cheaper electricity.

In this context, he wondered why the government was upbeat on Indo-US nuke deal alone to get more energy.

He said he had started building up a broad platform of political parties which opposed the nuke deal. ''My only restrain is my health.'' Mr Singh said his political outfit - Jan Morcha - would organise a demonstration at the Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat in the capital city on October 2 to protest against the nuclear accord and the government move to import more wheat from Australia at a rate which is double the procurement price given to the farmers here.

He said the government was paying Rs 8,500 per quintal of wheat procured from Indian farmers, while the price paid for import of wheat from Australia was up to Rs 14,500 per quintal.

He said the government decision was to import a total of 5.5 million tonnes of wheat from Australia.

On the nomination of Mr Rahul Gandhi as AICC General Secretary, Mr Singh said, ''It is welcome...he represents the younger generation...I wish him well.'' Asked if Mr Gandhi would be able to make an impact, he said,'' All that depends on how he turns up.'' UNI