Lalu Yadav bats for Indo-US nuclear deal

Pitching for the Indo-US nuclear deal, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday said it is necessary for the country's development and it would be "unfortunate" if the agreement falls through.

As senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury met Prasad, the Railway Minister said the government needed to take the allies along as "we need both (the deal and the Left)".

"Government comes and goes. Nuclear power is a requirement and assets must be created for our next generation," he told reporters here.

Seeking to allay apprehensions of Left allies, Prasad said by signing the deal with the US, "we are not becoming a slave of America."

Contending that the Left has right to express their views, he said, "I am hopeful the deal will come through and if not, it will be unfortunate for the country."

To a question, he said "anyway we all are preparing for elections."

When asked whether the deal will be an election issue, he said "the controversy has been raised unnecessarily."