Nuke deal in national interest: Kalam

New Delhi, July 3 : Former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Thursday told the Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was beneficial for the country and they should keep national interest above politics while firming up their stand on the issue.

Mulayam Singh Yadav and General Secretary Amar Singh called on former president's residence after a meeting of United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) where it was decided to seek the opinion of experts of eminent scientists on the issue before future course of action could be chalked out. "Kalam told us the nuclear deal is in the interest of the nation and without it there is no politics. Kalam has spoken to us, now we will decide in the interest of the nation," said Yadav.

In an effort to ensure that SP is brought to its fold, the government on Wednesday gave special briefing to its leaders Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav on the nuclear deal to address their concerns over the agreement.

Singh later said the arguments given by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan to them would be put before the UNPA meeting so that these could be discussed.

ANI