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The nuclear deal has the Cabinet approval
: Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was clearly in a combative mood as he
took on the critics od the Indo-Us nuclear deal in general and his role
as a Prime Minister in particular. He reminded that the nuclear deal had
not only been approved by the cabinet but also by the political affairs
committee. He took exception to the demand of his resignation by the BJP,
a party, he asserted, that had repeatedly let the country down.
On Board Air India One with Sunil Dang, October 18: Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh today asserted that the decision to go ahead with the
Indo US nuclear cooperation agreement was taken by the Union Cabinet and
all constituents of the UPA were party to it. Responding to a question
on how his UPA colleagues like Sharad Pawar and M.Karunanidhi were
having reservations on the deal in addition to the Left, the Prime
Minister enroute from Johannsburg to New Delhi said that the decision to
go ahead was taken by bringing everyone on board. The Prime Minister
reminded that the Political Affairs committee had also endorsed it.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the deal will go through after a
consensus was achieved through detailed discussions with the Left. "The
process is continuing and it is not fair to comment on it. We will make
every effort to go ahead with the deal on the basis of this consensus
following wide ranging discussions which will enable us to move
forward.".
Asked whether the deal would finally go through since even the US State
department had expressed hope that it would be clinched by 2008, he
said, "there are some difficulties. We have to find a way out. I have
not given up hope''. Was the uncertainty affecting his work, he said,
``let us be honest. When things do not work out, it does affect. As I
said at the HT Summit, it is not the end of life. Ours is not a one
issue government''.
The Prime Minister appeared to be in a combative mood as he launched a
scathing attack on the BJP when asked how did he react to the BJP's
resignation demand. ``The BJP of all parties has the least moral right
to make such a deand. Look at the holocaust in Gujarat. Advani who was
incharge gave certificates to all. They failed to uphold principles of
governance. Look at the Agra Summit fiasco. We all know how the war In
Kargil started. Intruders were coming in. The BJP is least qualified to
attack us''.
Responding to a question on discussions about peaceful use of nuclear
energy with his counterparts from Brazil and South Africa at the IBSA
summit, he said that the matter of our deal will come up when there were
discussions first with IAEA with India specific safeguards and after a
consensus was reached in the country.
the PM said that rising prices in India should be seen in the global
context. The prices of petroleum and other commodities were rising the
world over. Asked whether India was seeking a leadership role in CHOGM
and NAM, he said that India did not have any leadership ambitions. ``The
world respects us for what we are. We are not seeking leadership. We are
a billion people''
Dr Singh also announced that a India Africa summit would be held in New
Delhi in April 2008 and stated that the 11th five year plan was in its
final stages. He regretted that the Hurriyat had not responded to the
invitation to participate in the discussions and said that destinies of
India and Pakistan were interlinked.
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