World | India
Government schedules nuclear deal meeting
The Central Government will present the draft safeguards agreement finalised with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for endorsement of the UPA-Left Parties panel.
- ANI
- Published: 00:30 March 17, 2008
New Delhi: A crucial meeting between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left coalition partners on the much-touted Indo-US civil nuclear deal will be held today.
The Central Government will present the draft safeguards agreement finalised with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for endorsement of the UPA-Left Parties panel.
On Saturday, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that differences pertaining to the deal with the Left Parties would be resolved.
During last few weeks lot has been talked about deadline relating to the Indo-US nuke deal. It faces an informal US deadline related to securing approval of America's Congress well before this year presidential polls.
Three steps are required to operationalise the deal namely, safeguards agreement with the IAEA, amendment in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group's charter and the passing of the 123-agreement by the US Congress.
Mukherjee had earlier said that the survival of the UPA Government is more important than the deal and that the Left parties have to be taken on board.
Consensus
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also said in Parliament that the Government's attempt is to evolve the broadest possible consensus on the issue.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan said that the Left would not destabilise the UPA Government even if differences over the deal compel them to withdraw their support.
Bardhan said that the Left Parties might stay neutral or let the government work in caretaker capacity.
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