Nuke deal: Congress ready to do business with SP

{image-nuke deal_01072008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Jul 1 : Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Monday, June 30, night held talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

During a meeting at Mukherjee's residence at around 12:30 am, Amar Singh is reported to have been briefed about the deal and the steps India would have to take in the coming weeks.The meeting was held after the Samajwadi leaders sent signals that they were not averse to aligning with the UPA over the issue.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has played down the threat by the Left parties to withdraw support to the government. He said that the UPA government should be given the authority to go through all stages of negotiations on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Dr Singh also assured Left leaders that he was ready to face the Parliament before operationalising the nuclear deal.

Earlier, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat reiterated his party's warning to withdraw its support to the UPA government in case the latter went ahead with the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

Karat asserted that the Left would not change its stance on the Nuke deal. He stated that signing the agreement would affect independent foreign policy of the nation and would bind India for 40 years.

CPI(M)'s Central Committee had empowered the politburo to take all necessary steps on the deal, which could also include withdrawing support to the UPA government.

The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Samajwadi Party are expected to take a decision on the issue on July 3.

ANI