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National

Manmohan hopes Left will clear the way

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he was optimistic of the Left parties clearing the path for the safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency during their May 28 meeting with the United Progressive Alliance.

He was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a defence investiture ceremony at the Rahtrapati Bhavan here.

“So long as discussions are going on there is always hope. We hope good sense will prevail. We are hopeful of doing so before June 2,” he said to a question whether the UPA hoped to get the Left nod before the June 2 meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Shyam Saran said the draft was almost agreed upon and the government was waiting for the political process to conclude.

On the Women’s Reservation Bill, he denied that there were differences in the Cabinet.

“We have taken the first step [introduction of the Bill]. If there was no consensus in Cabinet how could we have come with the introduction? There are concerns with respect to the representation of backward communities and we are hopeful of consensus on the Parliamentary Standing Committee. We hope it will take note of their concerns.”

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