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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Will respond to critics: Dasmunsi

Neena Vyas

Debate now likely on August 29 and 30

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi reiterated on Tuesday that the Government would respond to critics of the nuclear deal in Parliament in response to a debate now expected to take place on August 29 and 30, subject to the presence of the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister.

“The Government is actively engaged in explaining the nuclear deal to the Left in the run-up to the debate. It is a continuous process,” he said. The Minister, however, declined to make any comment on whether the Government would suspend any further move to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. “You will get all the answers in the Government’s reply to the debate.”

At a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee attached to the Lok Sabha, it was decided that besides August 28 (Raksha Bandhan) Parliament would also observe a holiday for Onam on August 27. With the current agenda of a debate on floods and supplementary grants yet to be completed this week, the earliest dates for the nuclear debate were August 29 and 30, he said.

This was discussed at the BAC and he would speak to the presiding officers after confirming the convenience of the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister.

Vajpayee’s health

Separately, he said: “We are anxious about the health of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When enquiries were made with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where he was admitted, the doctors said he was advised not to receive visitors for now.”

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