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I don't see protocol coming into it: Menon

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said here on Thursday that it was a "complete misunderstanding" of the democratic way of working to suggest that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had indulged in "demeaning" conduct by speaking to an American Senator on the India-U.S. nuclear deal.

"Here is an issue between India and the United States, which we've been working on now for 18 months... in our common interests. If somebody talks to you about it, you will tell him what you think. I think that's perfectly normal — to have conversations... "

Mr. Menon , asked about the comments reportedly made by BJP leader Jaswant Singh, said he could not see how these things were demeaning. "I don't see protocol or anything coming into it. This is what friendly countries do. This is normal," Mr. Menon added.

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