'We know what to do: Menon says on US 'N' deadline

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) Making light of US warnings on speeding up with the civilian nuclear deal by May, India today asserted that it knew its job and was not looking at any deadline.

''We are not looking at a deadline. We know the time-table, we know what to do,'' Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said about the cut off date given by the US recently.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with US Under Secretary of Commerce and Security, Mario Mancuso, Mr Menon said the government was trying to conclude the agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as soon as possible.

Later at a press conference, Mr Mancuso said the US was not pressuring India by giving any deadline.

He said India is a sovereign country while the US had its own opinion on the issue.

''India is a sovereign country. It can take care of the political process...The US has its opinion.'' he said when asked for his reaction about the US ''pressure'' on India to conclude the deal.

''Pressure is a wrong word...,'' he added.

The two were co-chairing the two-day Sixth Meeting of the US-India High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) which began here today.

The latest comments by the Foreign Secretary and Mr Mancuso came days after three influencial Senators asked India to hasten up the civilian nuclear process and complete it by May to make it implementable by July.

US Defence Secretary robert gates, during his two-day visit to India on February 26 and 27, also conveyed to Indian leaders that the ''clock was ticking'' on the deal.

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