The Hindu : National : Nuclear deal faces many hurdles: Manmohan

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Nuclear deal faces many hurdles: Manmohan

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, wife Gursharan Kaur and daughter Upinder Singh, during the release of a book written by Upinder, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The book is titled “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India — From the Stone Age to the 12th Century.”

New Delhi: The path to implementation of the India-U.S. nuclear deal may not be smooth, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated on Tuesday.

“We have a lot of hurdles to cross. The next stage is NSG [Nuclear Suppliers Group]”, Dr. Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function to launch a book on history, authored by his daughter Upinder Singh, a professor in the Delhi University.

He was asked about India’s case in the 45-member NSG after getting the clearance of the IAEA for a safeguards agreement.

New Delhi needs the nod of the NSG and also the approval of the nuclear deal by the U.S. Congress to open the doors of nuclear commerce, ending three decades of isolation.

India expects a “clean” and “unconditional” waiver from the NSG to take the deal forward and hopes no new conditions are put that would nullify the safeguards pact.

A proud father

At the book release function, the Prime Minister was the very picture of a proud father.

“This is the first time I have seen her speaking at a public function. I am very happy. She spoke with courage and confidence,” Dr. Singh said after the book “A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India — From the Stone Age to the 12 Century” was released.

Dr. Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur and family members sat on the front row as Ms. Upinder said it was a “real learning experience” as she developed the book which divides the vast historical expanse from the stone age to the 12th century.

A beaming Prime Minister hugged his daughter as he posed for photographs with his wife after the function, which was attended among others by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik. — PTI

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