We will seek broad consensus on N-deal: PM

The government will seek the "broadest possible consensus" within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

"We are presently engaged in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency for an India-specific safeguards agreement," the prime minister said while winding up a discussion on the motion of thanks to the 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 cooperation is good for us, for our energy security and for the world," he said.

The prime minister also mentioned former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott's assertion that NDA government had agreed to settle for much less on the nuclear issue. Singh also welcomed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra's open support for the deal.