BackDifferences with Left on nuke deal will be resolved: PM
Differences with Left on nuke deal will be resolved: PM
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 11 August said his government’s differences with Left parties on the Indo-US nuclear deal will be “resolved amicably".
He also dismissed the possibility of a snap poll in the wake of the standoff between his government and Left parties on the deal.
“Why do you think so? All these problems can be resolved and will be resolved amicably", he said in reply to a question from reporters whether the country is heading for snap poll following the Left parties rejection of the deal.
Singh’s remarks on the sideline of Vice-President Mohd Hamid Ansari’s swearing in function came after he had in a newspaper interview dared the Left to withdraw support to his government on the issue.
On 10 August, the prime minister dared the communist allies to withdraw their support if they are unhappy with the landmark Indo-US nuclear technology deal.
He insisted that the civilian nuclear agreement with Washington will not be renegotiated.
Singh said: “I told them it is not possible to renegotiate the deal. It is an honourable deal, the cabinet has approved it, we cannot go back on it."
“I told them to do whatever they want to do, if they want to withdraw support (for the Congress coalition government), so be it," Singh said.
Singh, who oversaw two years of talks that led to the historic pact seen as the centrepiece of India’s new warmer ties with the United States, is expected to defend the deal in parliament on Monday.
The prime minister’s unequivocal “no" to the left parties’ call not to make the complex “123 agreement" operational came after the communists said they were “unable to accept the agreement."
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