Strategic programme remains unaffected from N-deal: PM

Bagdogra, May 17 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was in India's interest, and asserted that the country's strategic programme would remain unaffected by it and hoped "good sense" would prevail among the Left parties.

To press his justification of the deal, he cited the support the agreement has got from former President A P J Abdul Kalam, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and the scientific community.

Kalam, Mishra and the scientific community are of "unanimous opinion that the nuclear deal is in our national interest," Singh told journalists here before wrapping up his two-day visit to Bhutan.

The deal will "enlarge our options to produce nuclear power," the Prime Minister said.

Seeking to allay apprehensions about the deal, he said "we will continue to protect our strategic programme. I sincerely hope that good sense will prevail," he added.

Asked whether the May 28 meeting of UPA-Left committee on nuclear deal would be the last, he merely said "let us wait and see."

ANI