Rahul does not mind ''losing next elections'' on N Deal

Hyderabad, Jul 26 (UNI) Putting up a spirited defence of the Indo-US nuclear deal, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today said he did not mind losing the next elections on the nuclear issue which would benefit the country in the long term.

''Too much importance is being given to short term benefits, forgetting the interests of the country in the long term. I don't care if we lose the next elections'', he said, interacting with the students at a meeting organised by the National Students Union of India on ''123 ki Pathshala'' here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken a bold decision looking forward to the energy needs after 20 to 40 years without compromising on the country's future for 'short term gains'', he said, adding winning or losing the trust vote was not relevant but to protect India's interest in the long term was his aim.

He expressed disappointment that the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had originally negotiated the agreement and was ready to sign, backed out from supporting the agreement now due to its own compulsions.

Maintaining that nuclear energy was essential to ensure energy security in the long term, he said he had not heard even one argument from any quarter against the deal putforth based on courage and not out of fear.

The young leader said not giving importance to short term benefits, the country should think in terms of ''how India can impact the world rather than thinking about how the world will impact it.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said ''our acts should not be based on fear. India needs nothing to fear from the deal''.

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