N-deal: India to approach IAEA, says Pranab

The government on Friday said it would approach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for working out an India-specific safeguards agreement as a follow-up to the Indo-US nuclear deal, in a major breakthrough amid opposition it faces from allies and opponents.

However, it will present the outcome of the discussions with the IAEA to the UPA-Left committee for its consideration. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced this after discussions between UPA partners and Left allies in New Delhi.

"After further discussion it was decided that the impact of the provisions of the Hyde Act and the 123 Agreement on the IAEA safeguards agreement be examined. This will require talks with the IAEA secretariat for working out the text of the India-specific safeguards agreement. The government will proceed with the talks and the outcome will be presented to the committee for its consideration before it finalises its findings," said Pranab.