Government all set to take the nuclear deal forward

New Delhi, July 6 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will hold discussions with the US President George Bush on the sidelines of the G-8 Summit in Japan, to give the Indo-US civil nuclear deal a political push.

With the Samajwadi Party extending support, the Government is all set to take forward the Indo-US Civil Nuclear deal to its next stage.

Foreign secretary Shiv Shanker Menon while briefing mediapersons on PM's visit said here that India is in touch with the members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and that Dr. Singh will also hold discussions with many important members of this group who will be present at the summit.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's special envoy Shyam Saran has already stated, India specific safe guard agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is almost ready and will be concluded on receiving the political go ahead.

The SP leader, Amar Singh while extending support, had said that communalism is the biggest threat to the nation and the party agrees with the view of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam that the agreement is in the national interest.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal will take a decision on supporting the government on nuclear deal issue on Monday.

The Left parties have made it clear that they will withdraw support if the Government goes to the IAEA.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani urged the Government to seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha in the wake of political developments on the nuclear deal issue.

However, the Congress declined any such move saying that there is no question of seeking a trust vote by the government as no one has withdrawn the support.

ANI