Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that his government would seek the broadest possible consensus within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the Indo-US nuclear deal, while winding up a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha.
New Delhi, Mar 5 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that his government would seek the "broadest possible consensus" within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the Indo-US nuclear deal, while winding up a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha.
"We are presently engaged in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an India-specific safeguards agreement," Singh said.
"We also continue to seek the broadest possible consensus within the country to enable the next steps to be taken. I believe that such cooperation is good for us, for our energy security and for the world," he added.
Singh also mentioned former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott's assertion that the NDA Government had agreed to settle for much less on the nuclear issue.
He welcomed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra's open support for the deal.
The BJP staged a walk out from the Lok Sabha immediately after Singh's reply to the debate, expressing dissatisfaction.
"All allegations on the NDA Government are false and baseless," said Leader of Opposition, L.K.Advani.
ANI