China gave no clear assurance on N-deal: PM

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On Board PM'S Special Aircraft, January 16:: India has sought Chinese support for its case in Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) for India-specific waiver in implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation deal but "no assurance" was forthcoming.

Disclosing this, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told newsmen on board his Special Aircraft on way back from China that however he does not think Beijing would be an "obstacle" given the new relations between the two countries.

He also said there was no time-limit for clearing the processes with the IAEA and NSG, though there were some "issues" to be sorted out and government cannot wish away Parliamentary arithmetic in a democracy.

The Prime Minister answered a wide range of questions from China's support to Indo-US nuclear deal to issues like situation in Pakistan, De-limitation and petroleum prices.

Singh said China has offered support bilateral civil nuclear cooperation in power generation.

China is an important and influential member of the 45-member NSG.

"I cannot say I have got a firm definite answer but my own feeling is that the relationship of trust and confidence is now establishing and we are succeeding in that. When the issues comes before relevant agencies I do not think China will be an obstacle. I can't say I have an assurance today," Singh said when asked whether China would support India's case in the NSG for fuel supplies under Indo-US deal.

To a question whether time was running out and there was any deadline for completing the processes with the IAEA and NSG, he said, "There is no deadline".

Asked how confident he was about persuading the Left allies opposed to the deal with the US, he said, "Well the effort is that".

"Will the Left parties now change their position after the Chinese support, he was asked.

"You should ask them," he shot back.

In a different context, the Prime Minister spoke about the "mindset" of decision-makers like politicians, ministers, scientists and others when asked by a reporter about how confident he was about changing the "mindset" of the Left parties on the deal.

He said, "Let me say it is an essay in mutual comprehension and mutual persuasion. That effort is on and there is no doubt that we have to take an early decision. The IAEA has to first clear the deal. We have made progress but we have to still sort out some issues. There is no deadline."