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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
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Nuclear deal: Manmohan hopeful of solution

Says deal does not compromise India’s position to pursue an independent foreign policy

New Delhi: Making it clear that he has not given up on the India-U.S. nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday told a group of Indian-Americans that he was still hopeful of a solution to push the agreement.

Dr. Singh also told the group led by U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) Chairman Sanjay Puri that he was still hopeful of a solution to the logjam over the deal which meets the assurances he had given to the Parliament.

USINPAC Director Robinder Sachdev told PTI after a meeting with Dr. Singh that they got a feeling that he was open to the idea of discussion on the deal in Parliament.

A 10-member delegation, comprising top politically active Indian-American businessmen, is in the capital to interact with leaders across the political spectrum and understand their stand on the nuclear deal.

Mr. Sachdev said the Prime Minister also noted that the BJP had opposed the deal citing certain strategic issues and expressed readiness to convey to them that the strategic component has been taken care of.

He said Dr. Singh also told them that the deal did not compromise India’s position to pursue an independent foreign policy.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Indian-American community for backing the deal and lobbying in its favour in their adopted homeland.

“The delegation is visiting India to educate themselves about the difficulties faced by the deal and convey it back to the Indian-American community,” Mr. Sachdev said.

The delegation will meet BJP President Rajnath Singh, a section of Left leaders and some Union Ministers on Wednesday. — PTI

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