Manmohan makes strong pitch for n-deal

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made a strong pitch for Indo-US nuclear deal, saying it is crucial for ending nuclear apartheid against India and hoped progress will be made in the months ahead on the agreement which has "run into some difficulties".
Maintaining that the deal will open up new possibilities of cooperation not only with the US but also with other nuclear powers like Russia and France, Singh said that without the agreement trade in dual technologies could not become a reality.
"This nuclear agreement that we signed with the US has run into some difficulties, but it protects our national interest, it protects our capacity to use the nuclear power to protect our strategic interests," he said addressing IFS probationers at his residence.
"At the same time, it opens up new opportunities for civilian cooperation and without that, I think, the trade in dual technologies -- sensitive advanced technologies -- cannot become a reality," he said.
Noting that "our domestic politics has prevented us from going ahead," Singh said "I still continue to hope that we will make progress in the months that lie ahead."
The Left parties, which extend crucial outside support to the government, have been strongly opposing implementation of the deal with the US, arguing that it would compromise the country's security interest and independent foreign policy.

Courtesy:thehindu.com

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