India PM rejects resignation call
Saturday, 20 October 2007
NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (Internet): Indian PM Manmohan Singh has rejected calls from the main opposition party to resign after his government appeared to have shelved a nuclear deal with US.
Singh said he had not "given up hope" on the controversial deal that has been stiffly opposed by the government's communist allies.
Singh told US President George W Bush recently that he was having difficulty implementing the deal.
It was the first clear sign India may shelve the deal.
Differences between the Congress-led government and its allies over the deal have led to talk of early elections.
The Congress Party's communist allies say the deal, which would allow India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel, gives the US leverage on India's foreign policy.
"We have to find a way out -- I have not given up hope yet" Manmohan Singh said on the nuclear deal with the US.
Singh said he had not "given up hope" on the controversial deal that has been stiffly opposed by the government's communist allies.
Singh told US President George W Bush recently that he was having difficulty implementing the deal.
It was the first clear sign India may shelve the deal.
Differences between the Congress-led government and its allies over the deal have led to talk of early elections.
The Congress Party's communist allies say the deal, which would allow India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel, gives the US leverage on India's foreign policy.
"We have to find a way out -- I have not given up hope yet" Manmohan Singh said on the nuclear deal with the US.