New Delhi
5 March 2008
The UPA Government will seek the "broadest possible consensus"
within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the India-United States nuclear
deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament.
"We are presently engaged in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency
for an India-specific safeguards agreement," Prime Minister said while winding up a
discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address.
"We also continue to seek the broadest possible consensus within the country to enable
the next steps to be taken. I believe that such operation is good for us, for our energy
security and for the world," he said.
He described a former prime minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as "Bhishma Pitamah of
Indian politics" and appealed him to rise above "narrow" party politics and support the
India-US nuclear deal.
"Bhishma Pitamah of Indian politics Atal Bihari Vajpayee should listen to his conscience
and let national interest prevail upon narrow politics," he said, assuring Parliament that
the government would not compromise on requirements of national security in inking the
nuclear deal with the US.
The Prime Minister also had words of praise for Mr Vajpayee for his "courageous" steps
to foster peace with Pakistan. "The most courageous steps to build peace were taken by
Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said.
With a new democratically-elected government set to assume office in Pakistan, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh hoped the new leadership there will work with India in putting
the "past behind" for "enduring peace" and collective prosperity of the two countries.
"India wants to live in peace with Pakistan. The destinies of our two nations are
interlinked," he said.
Emphasising that he has a "vision" for the future of India and Pakistan, he said: "We
need to put the past behind us. We need to think about our collective destiny, our
collective security, our collective prosperity."
Noting that there is a consensus in both countries for having "close and cooperative
relations" and a "framework for enduring peace", he hoped that "the newly-elected
leaders in Pakistan can quickly move forward with us on this. We would welcome this
and meet them half-way."
"We seek good relations with Pakistan... I believe that in both countries, there is
consensus that we must have close and cooperative relations and a framework for
enduring peace," he added.
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