Dr Kakodakar not going to Tokyo with PM

Mumbai, Jul 5 (UNI) Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar will not be accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the G-8 summit in Tokyo, where Dr Singh is likely to discuss India's nuclear deal on the sidelines.

''Dr Kakodkar is not needed'' at the G-8, which was basically a political summit and it has nothing specific to do with India's nuclear programme, highly placed sources said here today.

Dr Kakodkar, however, might visit abroad later to hold talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to finalise the operationalisation of the nuclear deal soon after the PM returns from G-8, the sources indicated.

Dr Singh is scheduled to leave for Japan on July 7 for the G-8 summit and would be holding a one-on-one with US President George Bush on July 9. Both the leaders were likely to also discuss the Indo-US nuclear deal that has been rocking the Indian politics with the left parties threatening to withdraw its crucial outside support to the Congrees-led United Progressive Government if the Prime Minister goes ahead with the deal.

Dr Kakodkar would be participating in a panel discussion on 'advantages' of Indo-US nuclear deal in Mumbai on July 9, the same day the Prime Minister is reportedly meeting the US President, the sources pointed out.

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