Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh made an appeal to the Left parties opposing the nuclear deal to reconsider their decision. Dr Singh noted that if the agreement materialised, it would open new possibilities of cooperation not only with the US but also with other nuclear powers like Russia and France1. The government hopes to get a go-ahead from the Left to complete the safeguards agreement and seek waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group from its guidelines to participate in international civil nuclear trade. However, in a reiteration of their opposition to the deal, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury stated that India cannot go by the timetable set by the Bush Administration to conclude the pact2.

In other developments, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in a public meeting at Guwahati stated that the country should realise the importance of nuclear energy in view of the rising international oil prices and its negative fallout3.

• 1. “India PM calls for end to opposition to US nuclear pact,” AFP, June 11, 2008, at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h20I0p834Sj6UyqW9X4j6M3jGvfA
• 2. “India can't go by the US administration's timetable: CPI(M),” The Hindu, June 15, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200806152209.htm
• 3. Sushanta Talukdar, “Nuclear energy vital, says Sonia,” The Hindu, June 14, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061460650100.htm