Nuke deal: UPA-Left committee to meet next week

New Delhi, Jun 12: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the UPA-Left coordination committee will meet next week to try and iron out differences on Indo-US civil nuclear deal. "I said that it (nuclear energy) is an option. We shall have to go for the nuclear deal. Sooner we can do it, it is better. But now the meeting is on June 18 so let's us wait for that," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a book release function here last evening.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that the deal will open up new possibilities of cooperation not only with the US but also with other nuclear powers like Russia and France. He said that without the Indo-US nuclear deal, trade in dual technologies could not become a reality and it is "very important for us to move forward to end this nuclear apartheid that the world has sought to impose on India".

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The Left parties, which extend crucial outside support to the government, have been strongly opposing implementation of the deal with the US, arguing that it would compromise the country's security interests and independent foreign policy.

Left parties have warned the government of serious consequences if it implemented the deal and the two sides are currently engaged in talks to end the deadlock.

The Prime Minister said by entering into the nuclear deal with the US, his government has sought to give a new dimension to its relationship with Washington.

ANI