Nuke deal debate in RS on Dec 4

New Delhi, Dec 3: The Rajya Sabha will have a debate on the Indo-US Nuclear deal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said today.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would reply to the debate tomorrow itself, he told medipersons here.

Asked if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would intervene during the debate, Mr Dasmunsi said he could not say anything for sure.

However, Dr Singh had made a brief intervention when the issue was discussed in the Lok Sabha last week.

In this context, he pointed out that Dr Singh had so far made four statements on the Nuke deal ever since he made a joint statement with US President George Bush on July, 18, 2005.

He denied the reports that the current sitting of Parliament, which is slated to adjourn sine on December 7, would end earlier than the schedule.

"The winter session would last till December 7 as originally planned," he said.

UNI