PM to brief Bush on nuclear agreement

Manmohan is likely to apprise Bush about the hurdles faced by his Govt in taking the next steps.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to brief US President George W Bush later on Monday on the developments on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the wake of stiff opposition by the Left parties.

HT Image

In his telephonic conversation, Singh is likely to apprise Bush about the hurdles faced by his government in taking the next steps to operationalise the deal.

India has to reach a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and secure changes in the guidelines of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) to allow nuclear commerce with it.

The Left parties have threatened of "grave consequences" if it went ahead with operatinalisation of the deal. At a function in Delhi last Saturday, Singh said that non-implementation of the deal will not not be the "end of life", indicating that the UPA coalition was against any confrontation with the Left on the deal.