The Hindu Business Line : Mulayam favours nuke deal, meets PM and Sonia

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leaders, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Amar Singh on Friday made it clear that they favoured the Indo-US nuclear deal as they met Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi over the issue.

After their 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh appeared convinced that the nuclear deal is in the interest of the country and said they would try to convince other UNPA constituents on the issue.

The SP leaders said, former President, Mr A P J Abdul Kalam had on Thursday elaborately explained to them the benefits of the deal and allayed fears about the national sovereignty or foreign policy being compromised. “We have been opposing it as we did not have any new details. But now these new details have come,'' Mr Yadav told reporters.

Asked whether they were satisfied with the clarifications given by the PMO in a statement two days back, Mr Yadav said “the entire nation would be satisfied.''

Sounding convinced that the deal is in national interest, both Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh said “national interest was a priority to them rather than politics''.

The party, whose 39 MPs in Lok Sabha would be crucial for survival of the government if Left parties withdraw support, are likely to announce its decision on supporting the UPA in a couple of days. – PTI
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